Editorial – Cobourg Police issued a press release on Thursday, July 25, 2019 with the subject stating, “Safety Is Our Top Priority” – but is it?
Serious questions need to be asked by the Police Services Board on the handling of a recent release issued by Cobourg Police.
On Monday, July 22, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Cobourg Police issued a media release concerning 58-year-old Rodney Starke.
The release stated, “there is a concern for Starke’s well being” and that he was last observed in the area of the Midtown Mall located at 500 Division Street in Cobourg at approximately 8:30 a.m.
The release gave a description of Starke and stated if anyone knew his whereabouts to contact Cobourg Police immediately.
Today’s Northumberland was later contacted by someone familiar with Starke stating they were “shocked” his criminal background wasn’t mentioned in the press release.
A police officer later said, “he’s a very dangerous individual in my books.”
Starke had served two long sentences in federal penitentiary for similar types of offences of violence against women.
Today’s Northumberland confirmed that a Canada wide warrant had been issued for Starke on Tuesday – but nothing from Cobourg Police – nothing.
What makes it more concerning is Cobourg Police confirmed on Tuesday, they were fully aware of the Canada wide warrant.
But directed the attention to Correctional Service Canada.
“We haven’t updated it because it’s with Correctional Canada right now. He’s still technically a missing person for Cobourg,” stated Laurie Debattista, Communications Coordinator for Cobourg Police.
The original release stated he may have been missing, but Debattista confirmed the Cobourg Police Service knew he was wanted which makes it all the more paramount to notify the public.
Along with that, Debattista stated Cobourg Police weren’t sure what he was in jail for, or how long, or if he was dangerous.
Any police officer can do a background check of any individual’s name which would give police a history of the individual including criminal background.
So again, why wasn’t that done? Why wasn’t the public notified?
Numerous people stated they would have stopped to help Starke, but once they found out he was wanted, they were very surprised Cobourg Police didn’t notify the public.
Correctional Service Canada confirmed on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 what Today’s Northumberland had previously reported, that Starke was on a 10-year Long Term Supervision Order – the maximum an individual released from prison could have.
As of Wednesday, still no update from Cobourg Police. To summerize, they knew there was a Canada wide warrant, but didn’t update their press release. As far as the public was concerned, Cobourg Police were still concerned for his “well being.”
On Thursday, July 25, 2019 Cobourg Police finally issued a release at 1:13 p.m. – three days after their initial release.
The release was from Debattista with the authorization from Deputy Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf.
Today’s (Thursday, July 25, 2019) release by Cobourg Police states, “Safety is our Top Priority.”
The release states that they understand “some” in the community are feeling unsafe about the unknown whereabouts of Rodney Starke.
The second paragraph of the release issued on Thursday afternoon is the first time Cobourg Police notified a community of over 20,000 people that the missing person who they were concerned about his “well-being” was actually wanted by police.
“If the Cobourg Police Service was advised that there was a threat to our community, we would have provided that information right away,” states the release.
Correctional Service Canada most likely should have also issued a release on Starke sooner than what they did.
In conclusion releasing a statement to the public that police are concerned for a person’s “well-being” when police know the person is wanted we believe is wrong and could put the public at risk.
A media release issued on Thursday, July 25, 2019 by the Provincial Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad who is also involved involved in the investigation stated, Starke is currently bound by a Long Term Supervision Order resulting from a seventeen 17 year sentence for Aggravated Assault, Forcible Confinement, and Assault with a Weapon and Trafficking in a Narcotic.
The release also stated Starke is known to frequent the towns of Cobourg and Brighton.
Speaking to Today’s Northumberland on Thursday, Acting Detective Sgt. Brett Anderson of the R.O.P.E. Squad said, “with all of our offenders that are unlawfully at large, there (is) always an element of risk.”
That statement alone by Cobourg Police calls into question, “safety is our top priority.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
