Above the law: U.S. wants its officers exempt from Canadian law for cross-border police project

[damnedifIknow]

OTTAWA — The United States wants its police officers to be exempt from Canadian law if they agree to take part in a highly touted cross-border policing initiative, says an internal RCMP memo.

The debate over whose laws would apply to U.S. officers working in Canada raises important questions of sovereignty and police accountability, says the briefing note prepared for RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson.

“Canadians would likely have serious concerns with cross-designated officers from the U.S. not being accountable for their actions in Canada.”

The planned pilot project — part of a sweeping Canada-U.S. perimeter security pact — would see the two countries build on joint border-policing efforts by creating integrated teams in areas such as intelligence and criminal investigations."

* But the issue remains unsettled for the policing initiative, which was supposed to be up and running last year.

The RCMP memo says there are several reasons why it “remains appropriate” for host country laws and courts to continue holding sway, including:

— the fact it is generally the right of sovereign states to have jurisdiction over unlawful acts in its territory;

— the Canadian and U.S. justice systems are very similar when it comes to use of force by police;

— the border pact was negotiated on the understanding that the countries’ respective legal frameworks would apply.

“Canadians place a high value on sovereignty and police accountability,” the briefing note adds.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/07/31/above-the-law-u-s-wants-its-officers-exempt-from-canadian-law-for-cross-border-police-project-says-rcmp-memo/

[mick063]

1. We did not pull out of Iraq unilaterally

Iraq would not agree to similar conditions and basically gave us a sunset on when such conditions would expire.

How arrogant that we may assume we may police the world and not allow the world to hold us accountable for the actions of our "international" police.

We are becoming international bullies and diverting a disproportionate amount of our resources into our military. We have a thirst to hold an entire religion accountable for the actions of far smaller subset. Godwin's law forbids us from speculating on what we might become.

[damnedifIknow]

2. I don't think Canadians care for this much

A couple responses from the comments section:



"This is the most bone-headed idea I've heard in a long time.

This is Canada, we are Canadians. We are subject to Canadian law, not American law. I for one would never submit myself to foreign laws on my own soil.

"Do Canadian citizens need to start arming themselves to defend themselves from armed foreign thugs trying to abduct us from our homes for breaking their foreign laws?

I don't like that idea much, either. I think the American LEOs can stay on their side of the border. They can keep their PRISMs, their torture and their police state to themselves. Though if we say no to them, they'll just probably send in their predator drones."

[RC]

3. I used to cross the US/Canadian border on a fairly regular basis.

The Border Patrol on the Canadian side were much more efficient. Even waved my through on occasion. The USA side not so much. Ours were more intimidating, paranoid even. Like Canada was an unfriendly nation. Always had to open my trunk

The Canadian Border patrol dressed more like the police. Regular shoes. Only a few were armed. Ours like the military in hostile area, including all having side arms. Pants stuck in the combat boots, everything. This was six or so years ago. I can imagine things are worse on this side now.