Lone RCMP Officer Dedicated To Combatting Livestock Crimes Within Saskatchewan
By Robert Thomas
In the days of the Wild West, legend - or at least in American movies - cattle rustling or theft was a crime dealt with swiftly making use of a rope and the nearest tree.
Whether true or not may be debatable but in today’s Saskatchewan there is at least one Mountie out to track down cattle thieves.
It’s also a job of tracking ‘paper cows’, manifests, fraud as well as educating his fellow Mounties, prosecutors, and the Courts about the nature of agriculture and agricultural crimes.
His name is Corporal Owen Third.
RCMP Corporal Owen Third speaks at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s AGM about his job and role in combatting livestock crimes - MJ Independent photo
Speaking at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s AGM the 18 year RCMP veteran said his job was to support Detachments across the province when it came to livestock investigations.
It’s support that’s needed due to the fact many RCMP officers are unfamiliar with agriculture, and do not know what to look for when it comes to crimes in the livestock industry, he said.
Third spoke about his coming from a small town - and so he is familiar with agriculture - plus his previous experience as an RCMP fraud investigations and the financial industry.
“I understand the financial side of the situation we are dealing with…looking at a lot of paper cows (in the industry).”
‘Paper cows’ is a term that refers to nonexistent livestock that are created only on paper as a means to defraud financial institutions and government programs.
He spoke about people “creating false invoices about cattle that don’t exist” for fraudulent purposes.
Rice said his position is fairly new and many detachments were unaware that there was an RCMP officer in the province dedicated to crimes involving livestock so one of his first jobs was informing the detachments that he was there to assist them.
The lack of a strong agricultural background amongst many members of the RCMP was mentioned as part of the presentation.
Operating in a back up role for detachments Third is a strong resource to assist RCMP members when it comes to livestock crimes.
“We attend to different detachments to educate them in stopping procedures for people hauling livestock,” he said.
“Our Courts aren’t familiar with (agriculture crimes) I think our Courts could have done a better job with a steeper penalty”
Third said sometimes people hauling livestock are not appreciative the RCMP is stopping them to check manifests and for infractions. But the stops are all part of ensuring crime is being removed from the industry.
“Our officers are trained and you get mad at them (when they stop you). They are just making sure you’re hauling what your suppose to be.”
It needs to be noted the large majority of people involved in the production of and transport of beef cattle are 100% honest and follow the laws and regulations.
However, there are actually thieves out there who steal cattle. The RCMP stopping cattle, hauliers and checking manifests and ownership help prevent theft.
At the same time, it’s been also a job of informing the various detachments that Third is there to help them with their efforts.
When he first started in the role Third said he reached out to all RCMP detachment in the province to let them know he was there to help them. Despite this not all detachments are aware of his existence.
“I’m still coming across detachments out there who aren’t aware I’m here to assist them…I often do follow up with detachments who weren’t aware I am here,” Third said.
Third said it’s not just RCMP officers who lack understanding of the agricultural industry, but it extends elsewhere into the justice system.
Crown prosecutors often do not understand agriculture making it tougher to get substantial and meaningful resolutions in the courts. Judges often additionally do not fully understand agriculture and the seriousness of the offence.
Third spoke of one investigation where the offender was successfully prosecuted, but only received a $200 fine after many many hours of police resources were invested into the case.
“Our Courts aren’t familiar with (agriculture crimes) I think our Courts could have done a better job with a steeper penalty,” he said.
Third said the RCMP at the present time have a policy of ticketing first - resulting in a fine - instead of criminally charging the accused, when it comes to livestock crimes.
The RCMP works with Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS) when it comes to investigation and potential prosecution of livestock crimes.
One of the key roles for LSS is ensuring that the rightful owner(s) of animals receive the funds when they are sold. LSS is also responsible for the manifest and tracking services that all livestock must possess when moved over longer distances.
“LSS has been great, but I am the guy that who goes in there that makes some people not happy but that’s my job,” Third said.
Although his job is to educate RCMP members unfamiliar with agriculture, work with prosecutors, and the Courts who are likewise unfamiliar with agriculture Third made himself available to speak to ranchers and cattle producers about his job and his role to combat livestock crimes.