A civilian review which has just been released paints a grim picture of the actions of the High River RCMP during the 2013 flooding.

The report, completed by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP, took two years to compile.

On Thursday afterrnoon, RCMP Deputy Commisioner Marianne Ryan addressed the report.

“We know that many people were upset with the property damage that was incurred and how we conducted our searches,” said Deputy Commissioner Ryan. “Any damage that people felt was unnecessary, we’d like to offer an explanation for it first. If they still feel there is an apology owed, I think we do owe them that if it’s unexplainable.”

“I can’t say 100 % of what we did was flawless, I know that there were mistakes made. We need time to drill down on the report and figure out exactly where those mistakes may, or may not, be.”

According to the Civialian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) report, during the evacuation of areas of High River, concern turned immediately towards people who could have been trapped inside their homes.

Police at the time said they would be conducting searches for those residents, as well as any weapons that had been left unsecured as people got out of their homes quickly. RCMP claimed any guns that were left out in the open would be seized for security concerns.

As a result of the operation, many residents of High River returned home after the crisis to see their front doors and windows smashed, and their homes left unsecured.

The report reveals that the RCMP overstepped their bounds, seizing guns that were hidden and properly secured, something they weren’t allowed to do.

A lack of leadership and communication is to blame, indicates the report.

During the operation, police officers taking part were told to cause as little damage as possible in getting inside the homes, but the report shows that in many instances, crowbars, sledgehammers, and kicks were used to smash through doors and windows, leaving significant damage in the wake.

The report also predicted the months of public backlash that followed and scolded the RCMP for not better informing the public of their actions, including why they were being kept out of the community.

“What should have been a story about the heroic actions of countless front-line responders, including many RCMP members, turned out to be something very different for the RCMP,” says the report.

On Thursday, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulsen issued a statement in response to the report, expressing his appreciation for the Commission's work.

Paulsen says they are reviewing the report and will forward their response to the Commission once they have completed their review.

"I would like to acknowledge the work of RCMP employees in the face of this disaster. Our police officers — many directly affected by the devastation themselves — worked long, stressful and emotionally charged hours to keep their community safe. Their priority was ensuring the safety of the public and the protection of property. Our front line officers were instrumental in rescuing citizens and saving lives. They not only ensured their own families were safe, but put their own lives at risk to protect and save others," he wrote in the statement.

The Town of High River says they are glad their residents now have the closure they were looking for about the issue.

“We’re glad the report has been released and provides information that residents have been looking for since it happened,” said Mayor Craig Snodgrass in a release. “It is one more check-mark off the list for our community’s recovery from the flood.”

Council says they remain focused on moving the community forward with flood mitigation projects and ways to make the community desirable to live in.

In total, RCMP entered 4,666 homes during the height of the crisis in June 2013, forcing their way into over 754 of them.

  • 38 people were rescued, including 700 pets
  • 609 firearms were seized from 105 homes, with 50 of those guns coming from one home
  • Amounts of marijuana was also seized from five homes.

The report also recommends that the RCMP should conduct a comprehensive review of communcations functions specifically to address shortcomings exposed during the flood. It should also review emergency management policies at the national and divisional level to make sure they provide clear direction.

The review also says the force needs to create proper procedures or guidelines with respect to seizing firearms, ammunition, and contraband in disaster response situations.

The full list of findings and recommendations:

(With files from CTV Calgary's Rylee Carlson)