Enough already. Here is the bottom line. The four police officers responsible for Robert Dziekanski’s death conducted themselves like cowards before, during and after this tragic event.
After this fiasco, Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass, one of the finest operational police officers still in the RCMP, is probably looking forward to a well-deserved retirement from the Force. A copy of his internal email made the front page of the Vancouver Sun on June 17th, where his characterization of the RCMP apology to the Dziekanski family was described as ‘troubling’, by a senior PMO official. Bass was clearly operating in good faith, explaining the spirit of his apology to Mr. Dziekanski’s mother, Zofia Cisowski, to the RCMP membership. Mrs. Cisowski herself confirmed that the wording of the apology had been agreed upon at a meeting between her and Bass, so as not to undermine or prejudge the outcome of the Braidwood inquiry. She expressed satisfaction with its content. And that in itself should be the measurement.
Those meek and timid souls who would dissect every phrase of those who are actually in the arena need to get a life. Gary Bass did as he often does. He got it right.