I'm very disappointed in how this matter was handled by the RCMP and bylaw enforcement.
Apparently common sense and discretion is no longer an ability required by members upholding the law.
If it was felt by the attending members that Jon Cooper’s truck was unsafely blocking the road, they should have made the situation safe by blocking the back of the truck with their vehicle with their emergency lights on (as they did for the two-plus hours until the tow truck showed up) until Cooper and his son recovered their quad.
Cooper was doing a Good Samaritan deed for the city and the residents of St Albert.
And this is how the RCMP chooses to support such individuals. Instead of helping those helping the community in a time of near emergency-level crisis, they instead chose to throw common sense and what is in the best interest of the citizens of St. Albert out the window.
I wonder where the RCMP were today at 3:30 p.m. when a St. Albert city backhoe removing snow from the trail system and bus stops was backing westward down Sturgeon Road in the eastbound lanes with no pilot truck or barricades.
I very nearly ran into the back of him myself as I had no indication he was reversing the wrong way down the road. Unfortunately a few minutes later another individual ran off the road trying to avoid him.
The RCMP have a battered image as it is and actions such as this total lack of common sense and community spirit does nothing but reinforce that poor image in the eyes of the public.
Dave Cooper’s actions are not excusable but understandable as I would be a little upset myself in the same situation. The RCMP should have helped Jon and Dave Cooper by making the situation safe for passing motorists instead of trying to enforce civic bylaws that in spirit are not meant for such instances.
If the RCMP has any integrity at all they will realize that their members acted inappropriately given the circumstances and request the Crown prosecutor withdraw the charges and fines against Jon and Dave Cooper.
Grandin Towing had the integrity to drop the impound fees once they learned of the circumstances. Let’s see if the RCMP and our courts have the same level of integrity.
M. Reid, St. Albert
