Assistant RCMP Commissioner Wayne Lang, the man in charge of the RCMP in New Brunswick, was interviewed by the Daily Gleaner a couple of weeks ago.  He spouted the usual rhetoric… and made a surprising statement in light of the Lawrence Manzer case.

Lang said his crime reduction goals can only be achieved through a partnership with the public,

“The only way we are going to do that is if people chip in,” Lang said. “The RCMP (alone) is not going to make New Brunswick the safest province.”

First, I applaud Lang’s decision that working with us mere citizens is actually in the best interests of us both.  Sir Robert Peel’s Nine Principles of Policing might not be dead after all.  There is hope!

 

Where I’m sceptical is this:  Lawrence Manzer is facing charges for doing exactly that.  Trying to work with the RCMP and help them deal with crime in his neighbourhood.

For daring to do what the RCMP would not, Manzer was arrested and is facing charges of “weapon dangerous” for helping his neighbour, Brian Fox, detain three drunken teenagers that were vandalizing their neighbourhood for months.

If New Brunswick’s top cop is actually committed to working with the public, then he should be demanding the charges against Manzer be dropped.

Time to put his money where his mouth is.

Until then… I can’t speak for you, but I’m not buying what he’s peddling.