Earthquake in Haiti and current status of Canadian police contingent

OTTAWA - JANUARY 13, 2010 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police wishes to offer its deepest condolences to Haitians around the world on the tragic loss of life and horrific suffering caused by the earthquake.

At the time of the earthquake, there were 82 Canadian police officers, from various police agencies, on the ground in Haiti. Eighty (80) officers have been located and are uninjured. Efforts continue to locate the two remaining officers:

• RCMP Chief Superintendent Douglas Coates (Ottawa) and
• RCMP Sergeant Mark Gallagher (Halifax).

Our thoughts and prayers go out to both officers and their families for their safe return. We would request that the media respect the privacy of both families during this difficult time.

The RCMP has contacted the families of all its members deployed to Haiti, and are working in close collaboration with policing partners who have members in mission to facilitate information sharing and to contact their respective families.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The RCMP’s International Peace Operations Branch is responsible for managing the deployment of Canadian police to missions overseas. Since 1993, more than 1,000 Canadian police officers have served on UN missions in Haiti, making that country our largest and longest-standing commitment.

For more information, including advice on how to help those affected by the disaster, please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Earthquake in Haiti website.

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RCMP National Media Relations
613-993-2999

Update - 2010-01-13, 18:45

• The majority of the Canadian police contingent, including the contingent commander, are at the logistics base at the Port-au-Prince airport. Some of our police officers are providing assistance to the population by distributing medical supplies to the Argentinian hospital. Others have been asked to help secure the Canadian Embassy. The remaining police officers located in remote regions continue their work as usual and provide help if it is safe to do so.

• At this time, Canadian police are not involved in the Search and Rescue Operations in Haiti.

• All Canadian police officers who are accounted for are safe.

• The nine Canadian police officers who were on holidays outside Haiti have been asked to come back to Canada.

• The Canadian police officers who are in Ottawa this week in preparation for their deployment to Haiti will complete their training this Friday and return home until further notice.

• On behalf of the Government of Canada, RCMP’s International Peace Operations Branch manages the deployment of Canadian police personnel to countries experiencing or threatened by conflict. Since 1993, approximately 1000 Canadian police have served on UN missions in Haiti. Haiti represents our program’s most significant and longest-standing engagement. Given the current situation it is premature to speculate on the future of the Canadian police mission in Haiti.

• We continue to closely monitor the situation in Haiti to ensure the ongoing safety of our members.

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For more information, including advice on how to help those affected by the disaster, please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Earthquake in Haiti website.