24 senior officers and civilian leaders interviewed last summer had complained about deficiencies in the Nova Scotia Mounties’ operational capacity before the shootings, according to a ‘wellness assessment’ of staff
Most of Nova Scotia’s senior RCMP staff believed there were “dysfunctions” at their division prior to the 2020 mass shootings and felt abandoned by their superiors in the aftermath, according to a consultant’s report prepared last year.
The document was released as Lee Bergerman, the retired commanding officer for the province, testified Monday before the inquiry, which is examining how an alcoholic denturist with a record of domestic violence managed to create a replica police vehicle, arm himself with semi-automatic guns, and engage in a 13-hour rampage that resulted in 22 murders on April 18-19, 2020.
“Many pointed to provincial authorities such as the ministers of justice … who they said had for years underfunded the RCMP” and who “are looking for a bargain from Ottawa but still want to have access to ‘ready resources … deployed whenever called.’” The public inquiry has heard testimony from RCMP commanders who said personnel shortages plagued their detachment and only four officers – rather than the expected six – were available to respond during the crucial, initial 45 minutes when the first 13 killings occurred in Portapique, N.S.
As well, the report cites regional staff who said that national headquarters didn’t do enough to help officers in the aftermath of the shootings. “There was a widespread belief among participants that national headquarters was more interested in satisfying political questions in Ottawa.”
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