Leaked 911 Recordings From N.S. Tragedy Cause Outrage

June 5, 2021

Partial Recordings of 911 Calls during Portapique Massacre Released

Dear Members,

We have been advised by Nova Scotia Division that in a recent article in Frank Magazine, Paul Palango included portions of the 911 calls that were made during the rampage at Portapique, N.S.

“H” Division’s Administration & Personnel Officer, Robert A. Doyle, Supt., has requested that this information be conveyed to the members of our Association.

Through Supt. Doyle, Nova Scotia Division has provided memoranda that “H” Division has prepared a statement for public release regarding the article and has also provided a preamble to the statement that was sent to “H” Division serving members.

Both items appear below

James Forrest
Director of Communications

Internal Memorandum

Good afternoon –

Last evening a local magazine published a story about the incidents on April 18 & 19, 2020 in central Nova Scotia. The article included audio recordings of 911 calls from the victims. Publishing the audio recordings is a disgraceful disregard for the victims and their families, and it affects many of you.

I encourage you to refrain from reviewing the article or the recordings as they are sensitive and may be triggering. I would also encourage everyone to respect the privacy of those who had to make those terrible calls. We have actioned wellness resources for employees in Colchester and our Operational Communications Centre, and the family liaison, Cpl. Wayne Bent, has reached out to victims’ families. Know too that wellness resources are available to you. For peer support (8 am – 4 pm), call 902-720-5775. Also, the peer support and chaplaincy programs can be reached through hdivision_peersupport@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. For the Employee Assistance Program, which is available 24/7, call 1-800-268-7708.

Many of you may be deeply affected by the release of these recordings, and it’s OK not to be OK. Please don’t hesitate to reach in to the resources listed above, and as always, take care of yourselves and each other.

I will be issuing the below statement shortly with regard to the article and the recordings.

Statement from the Commanding Officer

Last evening, a local magazine published a story about the incidents on April 18 and 19, 2020, in central Nova Scotia. The article included audio recordings of 911 calls from some of the victims. Publishing the audio recordings demonstrates a disgraceful disregard for the victims and their families. This publication has chosen to make public the darkest time in these families’ lives, with no regard for how it must feel to have to relive that tragedy in the public eye.

We have spoken to victims’ families through our family liaison, and are assuring them that we will be investigating the source of the recordings and any related offences that may have occurred with respect to unauthorized release, possession and subsequent publishing.

Although we would not generally comment on matters that are the subject of a public inquiry and ongoing litigation, given the heartbreaking effect on victims’ families and on our employees, we are publicly condemning the publication of the audio recordings.

The RCMP supports the independent Mass Casualty Commission in its mandate to provide a full and impartial accounting of what happened in a manner that is compassionate towards victims’ families who have lived through a level of trauma that most of us will never understand.

The RCMP is cooperating fully with the Inquiry and providing materials to the Commission on an ongoing basis to support it in its mandate to examine the incidents and provide meaningful recommendations to help protect Canadians in the future.

To review all of the information the RCMP has released publicly about the incidents on April 18 and 19, 2020, visit https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/ns/operation-h-strong.

Sincerely,

Asst. Commissioner Lee Bergerman
Commanding Officer, Nova Scotia RCMP