To Be Fair To G20 Cop Sgt. Mark Charlebois

When I was young, our local radio station used to carry the syndication of Paul Harvey's nightly news program. Every so often, the esteemed newsman would read an item attesting either to the extreme folly or the extreme idiocy of humanity, after which he would let out a sound that was somewhere between a profound sigh and a declaration of surrender to forces beyond his control.

Yesterday, I wrote about Sgt. Mark Charlebois, the cop who deprived Paul Figueiras of his Charter Rights during the Toronto 2010 G20 Summit. The York Police Services Board declined to charge Charlebois on a technicality.

Reading a follow-up story in today's Star citing fairness to Charlebois as the reason he wasn't charged left me uttering one of those Paul Harvey sounds.

Apparently, Talk Of Charter Rights Is Just Nonsense

"Guys are talking nonsense and he got nonsense back.” - Sgt. Mark Charlebois in defense of his denial of Paul Figueiras's Charter Rights during Toronto 2010 G20 Summit.

Unfortunately, Sgt. Charlebois is not the only one who feels that our Charter Rights are a risible matter. As reported in today's Star, the York Police Services Board has blocked efforts to lay misconduct charges against the officer, shown in the YouTube video above telling a G20 protestor “This ain’t Canada right now” and demanding that he be searched.

In October, the province’s police complaints watchdog recommended three misconduct charges against Sgt. Mark Charlebois, who apprehended Paul Figueiras during the G20 summit two years ago. Unfortunately, standing upon a technicality, the York Police Services Board has refused to authorize the laying of those charges.

What is that old saying about bringing the administration of justice into disrepute?