[Brenda]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Brenda Brenda:

Now what is the difference with this and the guy telling it to a couple of friends in a bar?

Not much save for the fact that he has posted it on a public website that everyone can see - friends or not. The public perception in his profession is very important, just like judges, teachewrs, etc. One cannot have the public percieving that the RCMP member is biased or ready to carry out criminal activities, otherwise the RCMP would lose what little credability it has left.

The website that he should have locked off for everyone else but his friends, I agree. But, if he would have said it in a bar, where everyone can hear it who wants to hear it, and tattletales are everywhere, so the boss would have been told eventually, would he be in trouble about that too?

I am much more concerned about the YouTube video's of Police officers ON DUTY who kick the living shit out of an innocent bystander, than I am about a big mouth of an off duty officer.

I heard a spokeswoman say that the RCMP-officers are "on duty" (or something to that extent) 24/7. That means he can never drink a beer, speak his mind or go to the sauna. I'm sorry, but that is just BS.

[Gunnair]

Brenda Brenda:

Gunnair Gunnair:

Brenda Brenda:

Now what is the difference with this and the guy telling it to a couple of friends in a bar?

Not much save for the fact that he has posted it on a public website that everyone can see - friends or not. The public perception in his profession is very important, just like judges, teachewrs, etc. One cannot have the public percieving that the RCMP member is biased or ready to carry out criminal activities, otherwise the RCMP would lose what little credability it has left.

The website that he should have locked off for everyone else but his friends, I agree. But, if he would have said it in a bar, where everyone can hear it who wants to hear it, and tattletales are everywhere, so the boss would have been told eventually, would he be in trouble about that too?

I am much more concerned about the YouTube video's of Police officers ON DUTY who kick the living shit out of an innocent bystander, than I am about a big mouth of an off duty officer.

I heard a spokeswoman say that the RCMP-officers are "on duty" (or something to that extent) 24/7. That means he can never drink a beer, speak his mind or go to the sauna. I'm sorry, but that is just BS.

It's not bullshit and you say that simply because of ignorance of the requirements of the job. Like the military, they are on duty 24/7 - which means that they are accountable for their actions 24/7 not literally working. The difference between the bar and Facebook is that Facebook was public. In the bar between friends, not much so.

[Brenda]

OMG, and you say I am ignorant? A bar NOT PUBLIC?? Are you kidding me??

[Gunnair]

Brenda Brenda:

OMG, and you say I am ignorant? A bar NOT PUBLIC?? Are you kidding me??

"facepalm" okay, a bar is public. That being said, the member can exercise a bit more discretion when talking to a friend over a pint. On Facebook, the member did not exercise discretion and he is now being held accountable for that lack of discretion.

[Yogi]

Brenda Brenda:

OMG, and you say I am ignorant? A bar NOT PUBLIC?? Are you kidding me??

Actually B, a bar/pub/tavern IS regarded as 'a private place', by law. Just go ito one with your camera and try taking a couple pics and 'see what happens'. Both to you and your camera. You will also have 'said law read to you 'chapter and verse'!

[Brenda]

Doesnt go for whatever is said there.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

Brenda Brenda:

Doesnt go for whatever is said there.

True, but what you say to a friend in a noisy bar is a FAR cry from advertising it on the web for EVERYONE to see.

[Yogi]

Brenda Brenda:

Doesnt go for whatever is said there.

I would say that is 'a grey area'. Bars/taverns/pubs cannot have windows or glass doors that 'allow sight of the street or sidewalk' or a view of the inside of the pub/tavern/bar from the street or sidewalk inasmuchas patrons have 'a reasonable expectation' of privacy'.

[Brenda]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

Brenda Brenda:

Doesnt go for whatever is said there.

True, but what you say to a friend in a noisy bar is a FAR cry from advertising it on the web for EVERYONE to see.

Everyone who is looking for it...

Again, now he has closed his fb page for everybody but his friends, I guess he can say just about anything he likes.

[Brenda]

Yogi Yogi:

Brenda Brenda:

Doesnt go for whatever is said there.

I would say that is 'a grey area'. Bars/taverns/pubs cannot have windows or glass doors that 'allow sight of the street or sidewalk' or a view of the inside of the pub/tavern/bar from the street or sidewalk inasmuchas patrons have 'a reasonable expectation' of privacy'.

Huh???
Then I guess ALL the pubs/bars/taverns etc etc here in the area are illegal, because they ALL do.

[digerdick]

on-duty or off-duty , the last thing the RCMP needs is another immature mouthpiece destroying what's left of their reputation.......

don't these officers realized that because of the screw ups they are being watched and judged on their behavior 24 hours a day........

[Gunnair]

Jenn1985 Jenn1985:

It's all about an arrogant attitude created by a closeted work culture of entitled pampering.

Closeted work culture of entitled pampering?

Wow, another MENSA canidate on the loose in the forums...

[Benn]

Brenda Brenda:

Its his (private) fb page. He can post anything he wants on there,

Only it mentions in the article that he just now made the page private to friends only, which insinuates it was set to "Public" before, therefore speaking publicly.

He is right, "dark humour" is a release used in Policing and other high stress jobs among others. Only the humour is in the back room between coworkers.

Even if a FB page is private to friends only then you have to worry about who you allow as a "friend" so what you say is not spread around. He likely should not be talking about work beyond, "Had a bad day" on any potentially public place.

That said I don't think he should get in too much trouble for it.

[PolyPEI]

Probably should not have made the first two statements. The last one is quite true, I'm sure.

Jesus, he never mentioned any names. Chill out, RCMP.