This week’s letter from a Penticton mother should be a wake-up call to bylaw enforcement and the RCMP.
Why are a small segment of the population allowed to continue intimidating young families in Lion’s Park? These people have been getting away with this behaviour far too long.
It’s one thing to drink alcohol and do drugs, but swearing at kids? Who does that?
We always hear from police and bylaw enforcement that we have to treat these offensive people with diplomacy and respect. Well, that doesn’t seem to be working.
Residents and visitors should be able to enjoy Lion’s Park without the fear of being accosted or seeing illegal activity on a daily basis.
Perhaps it’s time to take the approach that the Town of Osoyoos has taken in its parks. Anyone who flouts the bylaws or is offensive towards others is given a warning. If that person continues the behaviour, he or she is no longer permitted in the park. It’s called expulsion.
Lion’s Park is a beautiful, well-groomed oasis. But sadly, it’s getting a bad reputation. We need to take back our park and no longer tolerate its moral erosion.
Uncover the veil
The veil of secrecy over Constable Amit Goyal’s disciplinary hearing is very concerning, not to mention the fact he is still collecting his salary (courtesy of the taxpayer) more than two years after being suspended.
Two hearings have been cancelled without explanation, and there is no word on when or if the next hearing will be held.
Not surprisingly, the RCMP has been very quiet on this matter.
It’s understandable to protect one of your own, but the federal force is once again shooting itself in the foot by not being transparent on an issue of public concern.
We can’t help but think that if Goyal was an average “Joe” on the street, there would be no secrecy or veils in the way; the information would be easy to access.
The RCMP has a professional reputation of upholding the law, but when it tries to protect one of its own members under a dark cloud, it doesn’t bode well.
Goyal hasn’t been charged, and the allegations against him haven’t been proven (see the story in this edition). But a disciplinary or conduct hearing means just that – you did something wrong.
While Goyal worked at the Oliver RCMP detachment, some members of the public filed complaints about his overzealous practices. They even expressed their concerns to the Chronicle on several occasions.
For the most part, the RCMP is a trusted law-enforcement agency whose members are extremely dedicated to their jobs. These men and women readily risk their safety every time they start their shifts. They protect us from the scum of the earth and do their best to keep the real evil off the streets. (If only judges would do the same).
But the RCMP must do more within its ranks to show the people whom they serve that they have nothing to hide; and that “nobody” is above the law.
