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CBC
15 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
RCMP 'ready for the challenges' of expanded role following N.S. policing review
Social Sharing Nova Scotia's commanding RCMP officer says the Mounties are well positioned to take on a bigger role in the province, two years after a public inquiry identified serious failures in its response to the April 2020 mass shooting and called for major improvements. A subsequent review into policing was released last week, with the province indicating an expansion of the RCMP is included in its plans to modernize services. Some municipal leaders have questioned the direction, while Justice Minister Becky Druhan has insisted she is confident it is the correct path. "Based on our improvements, based on our actions in the last five years, we have greatly enhanced and are ready for the challenges that lay ahead," said Assistant Commissioner Dennis Daley, the commanding officer of the Nova Scotia RCMP. The Mass Casualty Commission made 130 recommendations after examining the circumstances around the shooting rampage in which 22 people were killed across Nova Scotia. It contained severe criticisms of the RCMP including the failure to warn people about the danger, as well as not being properly prepared to respond to such an event. Daley pointed to investments in emergency response, technology and improvements in public alerts, while also noting a significant increase in the number of critical incident training scenarios. "We're actually practising much more frequently as either a senior team or a local team on how we would respond to a mass event," Daley said. "Certainly from a Nova Scotia lens, we've had significant progress in implementation." The RCMP has been publicly tracking implementation of the inquiry's recommendations on its website as the force works to restore trust. "I do recognize that some people may be surprised with the direction that the [Justice] Department is going," Daley conceded. "I can only reassure Nova Scotians that we are ready if the department asks us to do something specifically and where we are always searching and trying to develop trust of Nova Scotians." RCMP not looking to take over municipalities There are 10 municipal police services in Nova Scotia communities. Some of their mayors, including those in Bridgewater and Kentville, have expressed concern about how an expansion of the RCMP changes could affect their own forces. Druhan said last week those that cannot meet provincial standards face being replaced by the RCMP "That's not my desire," Daley said. "The municipal police departments here do a very good job." Concerns some of the mayors echoed from the policing report about slow response times and a lack of visibility in rural parts of Nova Scotia can be attributed to the large geographical areas the RCMP is responsible for, Daley explained. Concerns have also been raised over the cost municipalities face to fund new officers. While the RCMP is struggling to staff some areas of the country, that is not a problem in Nova Scotia, he said, referencing recruitment numbers from the last fiscal year. The force welcomed about 70 cadets and 40 experienced officers to Nova Scotia, Daley added. "As the Department of Justice asks us to expand, we can fulfil those needs," he said. It is still early in the process but Daley has already talked to some municipal police chiefs to gauge their reaction. He expects further talks over the next few months.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Top N.S. Mountie embarrassed by ‘disturbing' sex assault allegations against RCMP officer
Assistant Commissioner Dennis Daley, commanding officer of the Nova Scotia RCMP, speaks with CTV Atlantic on July 3, 2025. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) Nova Scotia's top Mountie says it's both 'disturbing' and 'embarrassing' that one of his RCMP officers is facing nine charges – including seven counts of sexual assault. 'I want to reassure Nova Scotians that we treat this extremely seriously,' says Assistant Commissioner Dennis Daley, commanding officer of the Nova Scotia RCMP. 'We have robust internal processes to address this behaviour.' Const. William McNutt joined the RCMP in 2021. He is facing a total of nine charges in connection with four investigations involving three women. Two of the cases against McNutt were due in Shubenacadie provincial court Thursday. His lawyer appeared on his behalf by phone. Both cases were adjourned until July 24. Suspended without pay Daley says McNutt was suspended from duty with pay in 2024. He is currently suspended from duty without pay. 'Once it was determined the number of serious allegations against Const. MacNutt, we went forward with our internal processes to suspend him without pay, so that is a mechanism that is not used frequently, but it's reserved for our most serious cases,' explains Daley. 'We will deal with his employment once the criminal charges are dealt with, or he decides to resign prior.' Daley says the RCMP will conduct its own internal investigation to determine whether McNutt should continue to be employed with the force, and that the outcome of the court cases won't necessarily determine the RCMP's decision. 'Certainly, having a criminal conviction would strengthen our internal process, however, I want to reiterate to Nova Scotians that we don't necessarily rely on the criminal court to determine employability,' explains Daley. 'It's a totally separate administrative process where we look at suitability. Is this person the best fit for the RCMP?' Meanwhile, Daley is urging anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or anyone who is concerned about the actions of a police officer, to reach out to the RCMP. 'It is important that Nova Scotians, if there is a police officer, whether it be an RCMP officer or not, that is not behaving in a proper, I encourage survivors to come forward,' he says. 'They can certainly call me direct, call the Serious Incident Response Team direct, and they will get action.' None of the allegations against. Const. William McNutt have been proven in court. The allegations and charges McNutt is accused of sexually assaulting a woman on July 31, 2019 – before he was an RCMP officer. Cumberland County RCMP launched an investigation in July 2024, arrested McNutt on Nov. 29, 2024, and charged him with two counts of sexual assault. McNutt is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman between Dec. 31, 2022 and Feb. 12, 2023, while he was off-duty. The RCMP contacted the Serious Incident Response Team on July 11, 2024. SiRT charged McNutt with the following offences on July 11, 2024: three counts of sexual assault one count of overcoming resistance to commission of an offence one count of uttering threats On Nov. 7, 2024, SiRT learned McNutt had allegedly assaulted a woman he knew on May 30, 2024. It charged him with one count of sexual assault on June 23. The latest charge against McNutt was laid this week. SiRT alleges McNutt assaulted a woman he knew in January 2023. SiRT learned of the allegation in March and charged him with one count of sexual assault on Monday. SiRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. SiRT was not involved in the investigation dating back to July 2019 because McNutt was not an RCMP officer at the time. The identities of the three complainants are protected by a publication ban. With files from CTV Atlantic's Callum Smith For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
