RCMP CODE OF SECRECY. WHY?

2013 under the direction of then Prime Minister Steven Harper, the RCMP enacted a Code of Secrecy to which every recruit must pledge.

Is is retroactive for all those currently employed by the Force?

“I, , do swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will not, without due authority, disclose or make known to any person not legally entitled to it any knowledge or information obtained by me in the course of my duties under the ***Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. (In the case of an oath other than a solemn affirmation, add: So help me (Name of Deity*)).**

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Regulations Prescribing an Oath of Secrecy

SOR/2014-280

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE ACT

Registration 2014-11-28

Regulations Prescribing an Oath of Secrecy

P.C. 2014-1301 2014-11-27

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, pursuant to subsection

45.45(2) Footnotea of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act Footnoteb, makes the annexed Regulations Prescribing an Oath of Secrecy.

Return to footnotea S.C. 2013, c. 18, s. 35
Return to footnoteb R.S., c. R-10

Oath of Secrecy

Marginal note: Content

1 The following oath of secrecy is prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 45.45(1)(a) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act:

“I, , do swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will not, without due authority, disclose or make known to any person not legally entitled to it any knowledge or information obtained by me in the course of my duties under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. (In the case of an oath other than a solemn affirmation, add: So help me (Name of Deity)).

Coming into Force

Marginal note: S.C. 2013, c. 18

Footnote*2 These Regulations come into force on the day on which section 35 of the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act, chapter 18 of the Statutes of Canada, 2013, comes into force but if they are registered after that day, they come into force on the day on which they are registered.

Return to footnote*[Note: Regulations in force November 28, 2014.]

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2014-280/FullText.html

7 comments

Comments (7)

Jackson Pennington

Sep 10, 2022

As a former Delta Force Agent I can attest that we had no oath of secrecy. Our oath was identical to every other branch of the military, to uphold the Constitution.

jmcerik

Sep 05, 2022

This is bizarre! I can see a spy agency, but a police department?

Rebecca Simpson

Sep 02, 2022

I answered my own question. Here is the oath every California law enforcement officer must take:

PEACE OFFICER OATH OF OFFICE, State of California California Constution Article 20, Sec. 3. Misc. Subjects [Required Oath of Office] (Video: http://on.fb.me/1LUukTX)

" I, ___________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

"And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any party or organization, political or other- wise, that now advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or other-wise, that advocated the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means. I will not advocate nor become (name of office) a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means."

I don't read any reference to a code of secrecy.

Jonathan McCormick

Sep 01, 2022

As a US Marine, I find it interesting that the RCMP has a code of secrecy.

We have a pledge. No secrecy.

The fact that I'm Canadian is irrelevant.

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Ontario police officers make the following pledge:

"I solemnly swear (affirm) that I will be loyal to Canada, and that I will uphold the Constitution of Canada and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge my duties as a member of the (insert name of municipality) Police Services Board faithfully, impartially and according to the Police Services Act, any other Act, and any regulation, rule or by-law.

So help me God."