Have a look at this video and tell me it doesn’t just piss you off:Did you catch that? That was Constable Geoff Mantler kicking a field goal off of the head of Buddy Tavares. Buddy was on leave from his job at a gold course because, get this, he had suffered BRAIN DAMAGE due to a motorcycle accident. This officer is DAMN LUCKY that this didn’t go worse. Lord knows, with a hard enough hit at the right angle and Buddy might not be here telling us about his tale today. He has finally spoken out and wants answers. He stated that he had come back from helping to clear geese from a gold course using a shotgun to frighten them away. This is something he states he has done for twenty years. I’m sure his manager will support this.
Through the CBC’s reporting on this, which can be found here for those interested, I saw on video the officer responsible, who looks to be in his mid to late twenties. So, here we have yet another incident of a young and inexperienced officer thinking he’s in the Wild West and literally putting the boots to a citizen who was totally compliant. This officer should be suspended WITHOUT PAY (he is currently receiving his full pay while on suspension) and should face charges of assault. As Tavares said pointed out, if he had been caught doing that to a dog, he would be in jail. Why should it be any less so for a member of the RCMP whose job it is to protect and serve, not practice their punting skills?
