To the Editor:
We were driving down Main Street in Penticton on Monday, October 8 at about 10:30 p.m. We were in my son’s Chev 4x4, big tires, a little loud - it’s a diesel.
We were going the speed limit. The RCMP had pulled someone else over. I watched the police officer stare at my son as we went by.
Being almost 60, I knew what was going to happen. Sure enough, they raced up to us, lights blazing. They snuck up flashlights on, hands on guns. They saw my young son, 22 years old, shone the light on my face and realized I wasn’t another young person but some old guy. You could see in his face he was disappointed, but my 42 year old step son was in the back seat. The back windows and back side windows have dark tint. You cannot see in.
I asked why they had stopped us. The officer said, “Your son has an ‘N’ on the back with three people in the car.” He could not see my step son in the back until he was up to the driver’s door, which means he lied.
They then started to look for anything they could find wrong with my son’s truck. They made him roll up the driver’s window to look for tint on the glass; there was none. Checked his windshield but it was new.
All three of us don’t drink, so we were all sober. They took our I.D.’s, checked for warrants, and finally let us get out of the truck after a half hour.
I do not have a problem with the police doing their job. My problem is with his attitude. He was rude, short tempered, condescending, and arrogant. He seemed upset with something. My description was that he had a chip on his shoulder. He just seemed mad and angry.
I will remind the RCMP that your job is to uphold the laws of Canada and keep the peace, not to rule over us.
Why is it when things happen it’s always the police’s version of events until a video shows and exposes the truth?
I thought in Canada we were innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. Not “guilty” until the police decide we are innocent.
It’s too bad because now when I see a police car, I don’t see help or good. I see the face of the young, angry RCMP officer.
It’s true a few bad apples can ruin the whole barrel.
Pat Sanderson, Cawston