TORONTO — In response to criticism of the Mounties’ decision to seize guns from deserted homes from the evacuated town of High River, Alberta, following severe flooding, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson is requesting that the complaints division review the RCMP’s actions.
The RCMP said officers took a few hundred guns from homes in the flood zone to keep them safe.
They inspected several homes and removed pets, guns that were not properly stored and anything that may pose a hazard to returning residents, said an RCMP official, adding that many homeowners laid out their guns in plain view in an effort to get valuables to higher ground. They promised to return them when residents could put them safely away in their homes again.
Much of the town of 13,000 was engulfed in water during the southern Alberta floods that began two weeks ago when the Highwood River rose, triggering a mass evacuation.
“While I am very proud of the heroic response of our members and employees (many of whom were personally impacted) in helping the community stay safe during this disaster, I am quite concerned by the sharp criticism that has arisen in the media with respect to the gun seizures from evacuated homes,” said Paulson in a statement.
“Naturally this is quite troubling to me, and I am sure to you, as indeed it must be to many Canadians who wonder what was going on in High River.”
Paulson’s letter requests the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP consider investigating if their actions were reasonable.
If the invitation to look into the seizures is accepted, Paulson states the RCMP would cooperate fully and would be open to any findings or policy recommendations.
The seizures angered some residents and last week the PMO scolded the police for their decision.
“We believe the RCMP should focus on more important tasks such as protecting lives and private property,” said press secretary Carl Vallee.
Critics complained the government should not be dictating how the RCMP conducts their emergency operations.
On Wednesday, officers began returning firearms to their owners.
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