Situation in Haiti: Commissioner’s update to employees

Our Canadian police contingent on the ground in Haiti continues helping with the humanitarian relief efforts and providing a visible police presence.

The entire RCMP family is grieving the loss of Sgt. Mark Gallagher. We have no new news on the status of Supt. Douglas Coates. The search and rescue operation continues at full pace -- all means are being exhausted to find him. Officers are stationed at the collapsed UN Headquarters where Doug is believed to have been at the time of the earthquake. Their role is to relay any news and help provide security.

Due to the instability of the residential structure where Mark Gallagher was found, the removal of his body has been delayed for now. Experts have been assigned to assess the site and determine the best approach to safely recover Mark’s remains. Officers are securing the site until this can be carried out.

Today Lisa Gallagher spoke to the media from her home in North Hampton, NB. She described Mark as “kindness personified”. She thanked all those who have offered support and condolences.

Also today, from Ottawa, Doug’s son Luc Coates spoke of his father’s passion for the people of Haiti, and of Doug’s commitment to helping make the world a better place. Luc expressed hope for Doug’s safe return.

From Haiti we are receiving frequent updates from Supt. Jean-Michel Blais, our senior officer who was deployed yesterday. We continue to speak regularly with the Contingent Commander. Two senior Canadian police officers from the Sureté du Quebec and the Service de police de la ville de Montreal are in transit to assist with the situational assessment.

In Ottawa the National Operations Centre has been operating on a 24/7 basis since the earthquake. The RCMP is maintaining constant contact with our Canadian and international partners involved in the disaster recovery effort. We are identifying specialized resources that could be deployed to supplement the disaster relief effort.

These are long days and nights for all involved. The safety and well-being of our Canadian police officers continues to be our top priority. We are maintaining regular contact with the families of all police officers deployed to Haiti, and their home agencies. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic situation.

We encourage employees wishing to assist to send donations to any of the recognized charities working on the Haiti relief effort. Planning is underway for Mark Gallagher’s repatriation and funeral. We will provide you with details as they become available. A memorial page has been put up on the RCMP external web site for those wishing to convey their condolences to the Gallagher family.

Our next update will be on Monday unless there is new information about Supt. Doug Coates.

William J.S. Elliott
Commissioner, RCMP