RCMP say an officer stationed on B.C.’s Central Coast is being transferred out of the region following protests from the Heiltsuk Nation, which said he made a series of racist posts on social media.
Last Friday, members of the nation marched to the Bella Bella RCMP detachment to call for the immediate suspension of the constable.
Screenshots of Facebook posts distributed widely by the Heiltsuk Nation, along with a news release, show a series of selfies, photos and captions that the nation alleges are by RCMP Const. Adrian Robinson.
CBC News has not been able to reach Robinson to answer questions about the posts, nor has CBC News independently viewed the Facebook profile to verify its authenticity. The profile is now private.
Elected Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett told CBC News the posts are racist and unacceptable for an RCMP officer serving in an Indigenous community. The nation called for the RCMP to take action against racism.
“Together, we will continue to stand up and fight for the elimination of racism and colonialism in the RCMP, so that one day they may truly be a police force that will protect and serve our community,” Slett said in a news release on Thursday.
The nation also said Robinson would leave the detachment by the weekend and would not work another shift in the community until then.
“It is unfortunate that the RCMP did not prevent this officer from serving in Bella Bella in the first place,” said Hemas Harvey Humchitt, a hereditary chief of the Heiltsuk Nation, in the release.
Radio West12:58The Heiltsuk Nation says it wants a Bella Bella RCMP constable suspended and removed after the first nation discovered racist Facebook posts
The Heiltsuk Nation says it wants a Bella Bella RCMP constable suspended and removed after the first nation discovered racist Facebook posts
On Thursday, a statement attributed to the RCMP’s s North District Commander, Chief Supt. Brian Edmonds, said the force “undertook immediate discussions with the Heiltsuk Nation in an effort to address their concerns.”
It did not name Robinson, but said the member was scheduled to be transferred shortly as per their posting agreement, “and their status is being continually assessed.”
RCMP did not address how the social media posts that prompted the Heiltsuk protest factored into the decision to move the officer.
‘Right balance’ needed: Mounties
RCMP said the posts flagged by the Heiltsuk were from between nine and 17 years before the poster joined the RCMP. That means the RCMP has fewer tools to address them, the force said, but it has undertaken what’s called a non-conduct-related administrative process.
“We are committed to finding the right balance between addressing the concerns through a fair process and the importance of individuals/community having trust and confidence in their police officers and the RCMP,” said the statement from Edmonds.
Prior to going public with the allegations, the Heiltsuk Nation said its lawyers sent private letters to the RCMP expressing their concerns about the posts. The nation said in a release that Slett received an anonymous, hateful letter soon after.
In its original news release the nation described the timing of the hateful letter as “suspicious,” because when the nation sent its letters to RCMP, only Heiltsuk leaders, RCMP leaders, and Robinson knew about the nation’s complaint.
RCMP said it was aware of an “inappropriate anonymous email received by a local leader and can confirm that an investigation is underway, as we take the safety of all persons seriously.”