South Okanagan

The editor of the Osoyoos Times newspaper is being taken to task by the RCMP for a recent editorial which strongly criticized a member of the force for his conduct during a DUI stop.

In an editorial written this past Wednesday, editor Keith Lacey claims he was "treated like a criminal and presumed guilty until proven innocent," when he was pulled over Friday evening, February 3.

Lacey says he, his girlfriend and other friends stopped by a local pub for a meal then " a bottle of wine at the adjacent liquor store to spend a nice, quiet evening at home."

He says an officer pulled him over shortly thereafter for a 'dirty licence plate,' and after a brief conversation, Lacey stated the officer " made it very clear he was going to make me undergo the humiliation of having to undergo a roadside breath test."

In his editorial, Lacey says he was disrespected, humiliated and traumatized by an officer who was "sitting in a parking lot outside a restaurant that serves liquor on a Friday night."

The result of the roadside breath test turned out negative.

In a lengthy response, Supt Ray Bernoties, Officer in Charge of 'E' Division Communications Services says while the allegations are serious and cast the officer in a "negative light," a video tape of the incident tells a different story.

"I have just watched the video and observed a very calm and professional member of the RCMP doing his job," says Bernoties in his statement.

"The RCMP has proudly served the people of Osoyoos for a very long time and I fear your one sided article could adversely, and incorrectly, impact their view of their local RCMP. Thus, I suggest that we post this video on-line so the good people of Osoyoos and others can make their own determination of what occurred."

The video tape of the incident is not currently available on-line.

Bernoties further suggest the video be aired in public in Osoyoos as a opportunity to discuss the " important issue of impaired driving."

"Admittedly, I am not a regular reader of the Osoyoos Times but if I was, I would be troubled by the seeming motivation of an article written by the new Editor of my local paper. Allow me to quote you from the video sir. 'I am the editor of the newspaper and you will see the powers that I have,'" started Bernoties.

"If there was one positive to your negative article, it was a reminder to me of the many baseless and malicious allegations our members must constantly face while carrying out their duties. Fortunately, in this case, the video removes any doubt that the police officer's actions were professional and respectful."