Buckdog

The RCMP have made a formal apology for the pepper spray incident that occured on the Sechelt Reserve in B.C

Not all law enforcement officials agree that the use of pepper spray on infants and children was warranted.

Alan Chad, an expert in combat and tactics who teaches police SWAT teams and military forces around the world, said the police officer was wrong to use the spray.

He said the officers on the scene should have gauged that a crowd full of children celebrating was not the type to start a riot.

"Let's remember this is a community where there's family involved," Chad told CBC News. "This is not a situation with a mentality of a riot, so it's still an inappropriate use of force.

" 'Pathetic' is the word I'm using."

Chad said talking and negotiating would have been a better way to defuse the situation.

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs have called for an independent investigation of the incident.

This story is important because is exemplifies the shift to an authoritarian mindset in this country. On some of the blogs discussing this event, I have read comments from people who feel that it was totally appropriate to pepper spray children. Even the initial RCMP comment on the incident faulted the parents of the infant and toddlers who got a face full of pepper spray.

That is bullshit!

CBC.ca