Police and Canadian citizens often clash during protests sometimes resulting in violent outcomes. Due to the nature of those altercations, there are few other events that require oversight more than the way police clash with protesters and there is a history of such oversight resulting in a number of Federal Parliamentary documents, Parliamentary Committee reports Task Force reports, reports arising from Public Interest Hearings of the Commission for Complaints Against the RCMP, and testimony at various hearings and inquiries which have produced particular argumentative discourses. Argumentative discourses that have a great effect on the construction of a civilian oversight agency of the RCMP is the focus of this thesis. This thesis examines how it is that different discourses, as represented by argumentative themes in these reports, intersect with one another in the process of creating a system of accountability for the RCMP. Through the lens of complaints that arise from protest and police clashes one may conclude that the current system of accountability does not adhere to a practice of protecting the most fundamental rights as prescribed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; nor would the currently proposed legislation contained within Bill C-38 alter the system in a substantial way to allow for such protections. The power dynamic between the Commissioner of the Force and the Commission for Complaints Against the RCMP favours the police force in the current and proposed system. In order for the current political landscape to become a climate favourable toward producing a system of RCMP accountability that truly protects the rights and freedoms prescribed in the Charter, a significant shift must occur in different organizations, agencies, and individuals who influence the creation of legislation and policy in this nation. This shift must be characterized by an increase in strengthening the commitment of the RCMP to protect the rights and freedoms as prescribed by the Charter rather than its current focus and interest in trying to stem the erosion of public trust and confidence in the Force. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2011-07-05 21:46:10.126

Every five (5) years a small-embroidered star is carefully stitched onto the left sleeve of a Red Serge, proudly indicating an accumulation of service in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.). Breaking the wash of scarlet with a flash of gold, that first star means so much to an officer. No longer a rookie with a junior ranking, it signifies a passage, a movement, a real commitment to devote oneself to a career in the Force. Perhaps this point may seem relatively minor but it is not the weight of the information presented that draws people in. It is more the creation of a perspective into a paramilitary organization known for its secrecy that makes such a fact appealing. I am almost certain, and perhaps even a bit hopeful that the next time you are at a public event where a typical ‘Mountie’ is present, your eyes will fall upon the red sleeves, looking for a star and upon finding one or two or none, by quietly pleased by the little secret you know. In my previous career as a Police Officer in the R.C.M.P., I often delighted in the sharing of the finer points that played a part in defining what it was to be an officer, especially with people I had known in my ‘civilian’ life or with those I had befriended while in the Force and now in my civilian capacity. When faced with the opportunity to enlighten people on aspects of the R.C.M.P., or the world of policing for that matter, I have always felt compelled to share my experiences and perspectives. With an education in Landscape Architecture, I now also enjoy sharing my experiences in the analysis of space and design when presented with that same opportunity. My research was already under way for a thesis/practicum on R.C.M.P. Detachment Design Guidelines in March 2005 when I first learned of the deaths of four R.C.M.P. officers in Northern Alberta. During the execution of a search warrant they had been ambushed and killed by the suspect who lay in wait for them. After participating in the massive memorial service that followed in Edmonton, AB., it soon became obvious to me that the focus of my research would change dramatically. Armed with the new skills I had gained from a Masters program in Landscape Architecture, I was faced with the educational opportunity to not only combine my two passions of policing and design, but also to honor the four R.C.M.P. officers in my own way.

Every five (5) years a small-embroidered star is carefully stitched onto the left sleeve of a Red Serge, proudly indicating an accumulation of service in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.). Breaking the wash of scarlet with a flash of gold, that first star means so much to an officer. No longer a rookie with a junior ranking, it signifies a passage, a movement, a real commitment to devote oneself to a career in the Force. Perhaps this point may seem relatively minor but it is not the weight of the information presented that draws people in. It is more the creation of a perspective into a paramilitary organization known for its secrecy that makes such a fact appealing. I am almost certain, and perhaps even a bit hopeful that the next time you are at a public event where a typical ‘Mountie’ is present, your eyes will fall upon the red sleeves, looking for a star and upon finding one or two or none, by quietly pleased by the little secret you know. In my previous career as a Police Officer in the R.C.M.P., I often delighted in the sharing of the finer points that played a part in defining what it was to be an officer, especially with people I had known in my ‘civilian’ life or with those I had befriended while in the Force and now in my civilian capacity. When faced with the opportunity to enlighten people on aspects of the R.C.M.P., or the world of policing for that matter, I have always felt compelled to share my experiences and perspectives. With an education in Landscape Architecture, I now also enjoy sharing my experiences in the analysis of space and design when presented with that same opportunity. My research was already under way for a thesis/practicum on R.C.M.P. Detachment Design Guidelines in March 2005 when I first learned of the deaths of four R.C.M.P. officers in Northern Alberta. During the execution of a search warrant they had been ambushed and killed by the suspect who lay in wait for them. After participating in the massive memorial service that followed in Edmonton, AB., it soon became obvious to me that the focus of my research would change dramatically. Armed with the new skills I had gained from a Masters program in Landscape Architecture, I was faced with the educational opportunity to not only combine my two passions of policing and design, but also to honor the four R.C.M.P. officers in my own way.

Thesis (M.A.) --Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1997. / Bibliography: leaves [245]-257.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Saskatchewan, 1997. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. Includes bibliographical references.

This Ph.D. thesis provides an analysis of "ordered statements" in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ("R.C.M.P."). Statements can be compelled from R.C.M.P. members who are under "internal" investigation for misconduct. Ordered statements from police officers raise a number of difficult and complex questions that have not been thoroughly examined in Canada. Accountability in policing consists of a complex web of criminal, internal, administrative, public, and civil mechanisms to review misconduct. In order to properly consider ordered statements four threads of analysis are utilized. First, by way of background, context and comparison, this thesis describes and evaluates internal management, culture and discipline in policing, in particular the R.C.M.P. Second, this thesis examines and evaluates the role of various external mechanisms that regulate police conduct. Third, various models of civilian oversight are compared and contrasted to position the R.C.M.P. regime internationally. Fourth, the working environment of police officers and R.C.M.P. members is explored, demonstrating that it is significantly different from other occupations, calling into question the applicability of traditional management practices. The thesis concludes that the legal and constitutional position of ordered statements is uncertain, adding to morale and organizational problems in the R.C.M.P. Based on interviews with 107 members, and an examination of other sources, this thesis reveals how ordered statements in the R.C.M.P. work in actual practice, and how this mechanism impacts upon individual members and the organization itself. The results reveal marked disparity between official and member accounts. The material and findings not only challenge basic theoretical premises that inform the employment context of R.C.M.P. members, they seriously question the function of and need for ordered statements. They also establish that the specific employment and organizational context must be more adequately considered by academics and policy-makers when examining the issue of ordered statements. These findings fill gaps in the literature and hopefully contribute to theory on police accountability. The thesis ends with a number of recommendations to improve the current R.C.M.P. regime.

This Ph.D. thesis provides an analysis of "ordered statements" in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ("R.C.M.P."). Statements can be compelled from R.C.M.P. members who are under "internal" investigation for misconduct. Ordered statements from police officers raise a number of difficult and complex questions that have not been thoroughly examined in Canada. Accountability in policing consists of a complex web of criminal, internal, administrative, public, and civil mechanisms to review misconduct. In order to properly consider ordered statements four threads of analysis are utilized. First, by way of background, context and comparison, this thesis describes and evaluates internal management, culture and discipline in policing, in particular the R.C.M.P. Second, this thesis examines and evaluates the role of various external mechanisms that regulate police conduct. Third, various models of civilian oversight are compared and contrasted to position the R.C.M.P. regime internationally. Fourth, the working environment of police officers and R.C.M.P. members is explored, demonstrating that it is significantly different from other occupations, calling into question the applicability of traditional management practices. The thesis concludes that the legal and constitutional position of ordered statements is uncertain, adding to morale and organizational problems in the R.C.M.P. Based on interviews with 107 members, and an examination of other sources, this thesis reveals how ordered statements in the R.C.M.P. work in actual practice, and how this mechanism impacts upon individual members and the organization itself. The results reveal marked disparity between official and member accounts. The material and findings not only challenge basic theoretical premises that inform the employment context of R.C.M.P. members, they seriously question the function of and need for ordered statements. They also establish that the specific employment and organizational context must be more adequately considered by academics and policy-makers when examining the issue of ordered statements. These findings fill gaps in the literature and hopefully contribute to theory on police accountability. The thesis ends with a number of recommendations to improve the current R.C.M.P. regime. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Sociology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-214). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38762

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Bibliography: leaves102-106.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2003. / Bibliography: leaves 387-405.