Recently, RCMP superintendent for North District Rod Booth made a particularly astute observation with respect to the current war on gangs in B.C. that could easily be applied to other ongoing investigations.
"We in policing often operate in what I call solos of excellence. The trick now is to bring these silos together. I also believe the whole is greater than the sum of its parts so everyone is better served if we can focus our abilities towards a common goal."
Often the organizations tasked with enforcing the law and protecting our security find themselves working in isolation, lacking either the proper tools for collaboration and information sharing, or dealing with an internal culture that deliberately discourages it.
As a result of the recommendations of the Oppal Inquiry into Policing in B.C. in 1992, there has been some improvement in the sharing of such information.
Predictably, with the recent release of more information following the conviction of Robert Pickton, and the Highway of Tears investigation, demands are again being heard for public inquiries.
Why bother?
Such inquiries would only confirm what we already know, while diverting valuable time and resources better spent addressing the problem.
The nature of paramilitary organizations whether it be the RCMP, CSIS or the FBI in the U.S. is to operate in these silos of excellence.
Whether it be child killer Clifford Olsen, the Karla Homolka/Paul Bernardo murders or the events leading up to the 911 attacks, history continues to remind us that the basic structure of such organizations is a contributing factor in the failure to bring these investigations to a speedier and successful conclusion before more innocent victims are murdered.
While the situation is improving, the technical, political and bureaucratic obstacles that work against the sharing of critical information continue to plague our efforts to bring the perpetrators of crime to an early arrest.
So long as there are politicians and bureaucrats fighting to maintain their funding, protecting their turf, and seeking credit, total co-operation amongst those entrusted with the public safety will remain elusive.
In the meantime, we can only hope that the Oppals and the Booths of the world continue to sound the alarm and that we as voters apply the necessary pressure on our elected politicians to heed their advice.
It is not good enough to do an excellent job in the pursuit of criminals. The true test will come when the tools and the culture exist such that co-operation is the accepted norm.
People's lives and respect for the justice system are depending upon it.
