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| ’Part of Canada Annexed by U.S.’ or ’U.S. Cops Attempt Daring Escape to Canada’ |
| 2004-02-20 |
| Canadian officials are considering diplomatic action after four American police cruisers chased a stolen pickup through a border station in Niagara Falls and continued their pursuit into the busy tourist town before the truck struck and killed a female bystander. What’s cop talk for ’oops’? The U.S. officers involved, members of the force in neighbouring Niagara Falls, N.Y., could be charged as a result of the incident, which occurred just after dark on Wednesday. Constable Richard Geady of the Niagara Region Police said that if charges are laid in Canada, they "would be a violation of our general orders to continue on U.S. police are not permitted to chase suspects into Canada, said Reynald Doiron, a spokesman for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. "Both sides fully recognize the importance of respecting each other’s authority and national sovereignty," Mr. Doiron said. "The government is not taking this incident lightly. We will be carefully reviewing all the facts before determining an appropriate course of action." Officials from various sources said a diplomatic representation regarding the violation of sovereignty could be made as early as today. One customs official, who asked not to be identified, said the American police did not radio ahead as is the protocol in cross-border chases, and customs agents were in shock when the truck and four cruisers zoomed through the crossing. The truck, which had been stolen minutes earlier from a telephone repairman in Niagara Falls, N.Y., crashed through the barrier arm that was closed over the bus lane of the inspection station with two police cars in pursuit. Two other cruisers drove through regular inspection lanes, which were open at the time. One of them stopped as it arrived in Canadian territory; the others roared half a kilometre up the road before rounding a corner and vanishing from the sight of the customs guards. Constable Geady said the American officers were told to stop a short time later and did so, then returned to the border... The issue for customs agents "is that any one of us could have got struck by the vehicle or God knows what could have happened. And then the issue extends to obvious disregard for Canadian sovereignty," said Ron Moran, the national president of the Customs and Excise Union. "The number of jurisdictional infractions that would have been committed by the police officers would be countless. All you have to do is try to imagine if Canadian officers had done this on the U.S. side. The whole border would have been shut down across the country." OK .com let’s see how you spin this one :) |
| Posted by:Rafael |
| #15 While serving in a missile patch in Kansas many years ago, had some friends who were sky cops. While drinking one day, they told a story. They were escorting a replacement Miniteman out to a silo in North Dakota one stormy day, when the convoy commander got "lost". He, of course, being a officer knew where he was and which way to go. And no one could tell him otherwise. So off they went, across the empty ND landscape till they came to a marked crossroads. And guess what, they were 5 miles inside Canada, with a f**king nuclear missile! About face, full speed, back the way they came, right into a canadian cop who tried to flag them down. They didn't quite jack him up, just explained that it really wasn't a good idea to try to stop them. They got back across the border ok, the state department wrote a secret, but polite letter saying it would never happen again, and no one ever saw that officer again. It's really amazing how fast the Pentagon can disappear a officer when he screws up. NCOs take time, but anyone below full bird, poof! Gone! |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-2-20 10:24:05 PM |
| #14 The initial story in the media did not include the part about the pursuit of the American officers. That only showed up a day later. Niagara Falls is not the center of the media universe and Toronto seems more focused on drive-by shootings. Handgun violence in Downtown Toronto? How very American! *sarcasm* The police have been castigated here on many occasions for hot pursuits that result in injury and death of innocent bystanders. Just goes with the territory I guess. In Canada the "Army of One" is not a slogan, it's reality *joke* |
| Posted by: john 2004-2-20 9:25:02 PM |
| #13 Barbara: up here police chases are generally frowned upon by media types. If they could they would disarm our cops completely. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-2-20 8:49:16 PM |
#12 All you have to do is try to imagine if Canadian officers had done this on the U.S. side.Imagine, hell. I have no doubt the U.S. cops would have joined in the chase, helped catch the perp (or more likely kill him if he brandished a gun), then arranged to meet the Canadian cops at the border town for a brew after shift. Ron Moran, "the national president of the Customs and Excise Union" (the what?), must not know Americans very well. And yes, it is a shame about the woman killed. But why the assumption that this clown wouldn't have harmed anyone in Canada if the big bad Americans hadn't chased him? As usual, it's the Americans' fault. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-2-20 8:34:47 PM |
| #11 Heh, re: couldn't resist and nothing bad tempered - me either! This story is just weird, as written, and there has to be more to it than this. I'm sure that the cops on both sides couldn't care less what the Pols say and just concentrate on catching bad guys. The border guys were prolly suckered into those quotes - or the context was, uh, "mislaid" somehow, heh. ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-20 8:18:13 PM |
| #10 Sorry .com I just couldn't resist with this article. Nothing bad tempered was intended. No seething on my part, believe me. In fact, this would be swept under the 'So What?' rug if it wasn't for that lady being killed. The article implies there exists an arrangement of some sort between the border cops. But I don't think it would allow US cops to chase perps around on Canadian territory. In any case, going all diplomatic over this is probably an over-reaction. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-2-20 8:03:12 PM |
| #9 I'm wondering if the thief fired his gun at the police during the robbery, or if he injured the workman. That does not excuse the chase across the border, but it might explain it. |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-2-20 7:58:53 PM |
| #8 Um..just one question...outside of the government of Canada's reaction, how is this getting played to the general populace? |
| Posted by: Valentine 2004-2-20 7:50:21 PM |
| #7 I will try and spin this.1)We only have Canadian version-we don't know if US troopers radioed aheah and recieved no response,or did get thru and message wasn't passed on.2)No mention if relations between US/Canadian police in area is good or bad,nor is it made clear if the Canadian Customs people are responsible for stopping fleeing cross-border felons.3)The US cars when contacted,obeyed Canadian instructions.4)Careful reading indicates the thief/killer continued to flee and killed poor woman after US pursuit stopped.While I can certainly believe US police can make mistakes,I want to know as many facts as possible before I judge someone. |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-2-20 6:26:08 PM |
| #6 Tibor (& Dr Steve) - I understand. That article was only one of two or three of his articles I've read - and so I was taking what he said in it at face value. I salute you and Dr Steve for your tolerance - though I didn't think he deserved it! I really do think we should attack the myths, and Warren's intentional use of the Vietnam myth boogeyman (Ooooohhh! Skeeery!) really really pissed me off as he was an obviously oblivious believer, yet he is given the status and respect due a deep thinker. Methinks NOT! But, to you and Dr Steve, I apologize for my, uh, rank enthusiasm! I'm (a little) better, now. I finally moved into my new apt here in Sin City and while unpacking I found my meds... Wha's happenin' dooood! Heh. ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-20 6:11:32 PM |
| #5 .com Having read other things by David Warren, I cut him some slack and when reading and rereading the Warren article you posted, I didn't have the same negative reactions or draw the same negative conclusions. That said, I once told a Canadian college student I met in Germany that if she didn't stop badmouthing the US, I would arrange for a Girl Scout troop to invade and annex Canada. That shut her up. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2004-2-20 5:49:36 PM |
| #4 "OK .com let’s see how you spin this one :)" Sheesh, now I'm responsible for the act(s) of every individual American? Interesting comment, Rafael, since I haven't blamed individual Canucks for anything, with David Warren as my sole exception due to his recent blatant bullshit (Tibor was excrutiatingly forgiving - with zero in the article to back up his largesse), just Canadian Gov't policies and the Pols who support them. I guess I've rubbed you the wrong way too often, offending your sense of nationalism, although I thought my last direct comment to you would have made it clear where my concerns actually lie. Arrrggghhh! I'll forego such public anguish and soul-bearing honesty in the future! :) In this incident, which I believe is something of an exception since I haven't been hearing about regular incursions, these Niagara Falls cops seem to have had gone (at least) temporarily insane. I hope they are subjected to the letter of the law, since that's what it's for. FWIW, I won't be contributing to their legal defense fund. That's all I can offer you in direct reply to the topic! Someone get a rope and lynch these guys, quick! Izzat Better? :) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-20 5:21:50 PM |
| #3 I thought Canada was under UN control. Call it a "Peacekeeping Operation" and that should take care of everything. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2004-2-20 5:11:34 PM |
| #2 I wonder if the Canadian army is on alert... I make a joke. The Canadian army is deployed. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-20 4:56:39 PM |
| #1 Maybe he has a plan for a 40km strip of, er, snow? Plus this never would have happened if our Friendship Fence was complete... Good work on the part of the Canadian constabulary. Hope we can make proper amends. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-2-20 4:53:31 PM |