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“While the union cannot speak to the investigation of Mr. Lavin, I feel I must speak out and question whether it truly warranted terrorizing a family in their own home.” — Joan Jessome, President, NSGEU
Halifax (13 Oct. 2015) — The President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE), representing the Cape Breton Police Officer who has been charged, the union is questioning whether inappropriate force was used during his arrest.
Family terrorized
Wade Lavin is a 15-year member of the Cape Breton Police force.
In the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, he and his family – three children under the age of 11 and his wife — awoke to a team of RCMP officers, some armed with Colt C8 carbine assault rifles, who had let themselves into their home.
Excessive use of force?
“While the union cannot speak to the investigation of Mr. Lavin, I feel I must speak out and question whether it truly warranted terrorizing a family in their own home,” said President Joan Jessome.
“Why could the RCMP not wait until the small children were not home, or speak to Mr. Lavin when he was scheduled to come into work the following day? It seems extremely excessive to have armed officers storm a house to retrieve a computer.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE