Editor:
Reading the front-page report on Jamie Haller, who claims she was assaulted by Andy Yung, a member of the RCMP, has left me shocked; surely the same as the vast majority of readers would feel.
I silently pray that this did not happen as depicted. However, if what was stated by Jamie and her mom is indeed true, then a member of the RCMP has, once again, discredited a laudable institution that was implemented to maintain law and order in Canada and protect its citizens.
Punching a teenage girl would be despicable enough but, if the words “You guys are aboriginals. No one is going to want to help you,” have indeed been uttered by an RCMP officer, that would constitute a new moral low.
We are Canadians and not citizens of a country that discriminates based on ethnicity. Furthermore, the First Nations people were living here long before we came along and “bettered” their lives.
The few times that I have had dealings with the RCMP, over mundane issues, I have been treated very well indeed and I can only hope that, should the allegations of Jamie prove true, they represent a rare exception.
Staff Sgt. Warren Brown enjoys a good reputation in this town and is known to make a concerted effort to reach out to and work with the First Nations community.
I therefore expect and encourage Brown to thoroughly investigate this matter and should Yung have committed an assault that he deal accordingly with such a rogue officer and not only remove him from this community but also have him removed from service, together with the RCMP member that uttered the racial slur.
If not, how can we expect our native friends to trust the RCMP? Heck, I’m Caucasian and am beginning to wonder if I need others present when dealing with the RCMP.
Bernd Eisele
Williams Lake