PJ Media

Heather Cook is simply wrong on a number of points. While I can’t comment on the accuracy of her `Love Against All Odds’ personal anecdotes, I can speak to other aspects of this surprisingly sloppy and sarcastic article. First, contrary to her assertion, none of the recently armed officers were from the now infamous `Facebook’ class of recruits. They were selected from experienced front-line officers and supervisors. Second, their three week RCMP firearms training was the same `course of fire’ that RCMP cadets are allowed at least four months to pass. Third, before sneering at those who failed, please be fair and consider the challenge to a 5′ 3″, 125 lb. female officer having to hold a 2 pound semi-automatic pistol at arms length while pulling a trigger with 9 lbs resistance 1,800 times over a 6 day period and trying to consistantly hit a 12″ target 75′ away. I did it and succeeded, but it was very difficult. And I am 6′ and quite fit.

And the $700+ million Ms. Cook refers to? She could have mentioned that that also pays for significant facilities upgrades and 400 new officers to try to eliminate the current situation in which many officers actually work alone on the border.

As for the fools and crooks – every organization has them and works diligently to rid itself of them and Canada Border Services is no different. The vast majority of front-line officers are dedicated and hard working, doing what can occasionally be an extremely risky job. It is simply not accurate or justified to portray them, or the organization they belong to, as Ms. Cook has done.
And those job actions in British Columbia Ms. Cook refers to? It would have been appropriate (and fairer) for her to also include the fact that in the 2006 case, the flight of the two murder suspects ended in a gun fight about 10′ from the international border.

I expect these sorts of omissions and inaccuracies in a typical MSM product, but it is disappointing to see them appear in a PJM submission.