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 demonstrate 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