Commissioner Paulson: The Habitual Breaker of Regulations... even his own

Several kind readers have sent us recent photos of the Commissioner of the RCMP, Bob Paulson, committing various offences related to medal wearing. Yes he continues to wear the unapproved British Columbia Police Meritorious Service Medal, which we revealed in our post of September 25, 2015. It seems the head of our national police forces remains immune from following the direction of the Government of Canada (a.k.a. his boss) when it comes to wearing orders, decorations and medals. Or perhaps he has a "get out of jail free card" for habitually wearing unrecognized medals.

Cmmr. Paulson: "Why officer, I have this card that allows me to break the rules,
allow me to present it to you... you do know who I am of course. Why would I, head of the
 national police force and enforcer of the laws of the land, have to follows some
regulation that prevents me from wearing whatever crackerjack medals I like!"

Last Friday the Governor General held an investiture for the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. As per tradition a parade of police officers presented themselves to the GG to receive their medals, and as usual, a number of completely phoney and unrecognized medals were worn by the people who are sworn to uphold the law of the land. Now violating a mere Order-in-Council (1998-591), the regulation that outlines what medals a Canadian can wear with other official honours, might seem a minor thing, but having those who have a duty to defend the law breaking these sorts of rules is bothersome. We don't get to pick and choose which regulations and laws we follow... unless it would seem you are certain police officers; then you can just do whatever you like with no fear of sanction -- just the ridicule of a minor blog. 

Exhibit A: Commissioner Paulson with his trumped up medal group. 

Of course our illustrious Commissioner of the RCMP showed up at Rideau Hall again wearing his illegal medal, the British Columbia Police Meritorious Service Medal, yet another one of those provincial cracker jack gongs that duplicate a national honour. 

Exhibit B: The Commissioner on parade... issue that
man with a ticket for wearing an unauthorized gong!

It is more than a bit disturbing to see that the Commissioner is not only suffering from the dreaded Instant Dictator Syndrome, by wearing a phony medal, but that he is now also engaging in Reichsmarshall Herman Goering's favourite wartime hobby of improvising and enhancing his collection of uniforms. Where is the RCMP's buttons, ribbons and bows brigade to correct the wayward Commissioner? 

How precisely has he enhanced his uniforms? Well first off it it a bit bizarre to see the Commissioner wearing RCMP Collar Badges on his Red Serge tunic that have not been authorized for wearing since 1955 (i.e. they have a King's Tudor Crown on them and are silver)... but he can make up the rules, he is after all the  El Supremeo leader of all the men and women in red serge. Somehow I don't think RCMP Constables have the same degree of freedom to improvise what they pin on their uniforms. 

But wait, there is more! He has invented an entirely new order of dress, for "Commissioners Only" it would seem. Recently the Commissioner was spotted, in Ottawa wearing his RCMP Blue Serge tunic with full size medals. Now last we checked in the RCMP Dress Regulations -- and this is confirmed by a few of our enthusiastic readers who are members of the RCMP -- no one is authorized to wear medals with this order of dress (undress ribbons only). It seems likely that the Commissioner didn't want to show up to an Army event wearing Red Serge, sticking out like a carrot in an omelet,  but what to do for an event were everyone else will be wearing medals? I know, just break your own rules and invent a new order of dress! 

Of course it's not a "uniform" if you're the only one wearing it, its just a costume... so Blue Serge with Full Size Medals = The Paulson Costume... several months ahead of Halloween!

RCMP Blue Serge Tunic with medals... that hasn't been in the RCMP regulation for many years.
But hey, the Commissioner can just invent the rules... it worked for various military leaders, most of
whom fought for the Axis powers.

Proper RCMP Officers don't go dressing up their medal groups with crackerjack medals, nor do they enhance the dress regulations.  Commissioner Paulson should follow the sterling example of Sir Sam Steele, an early member of the Force who will be remembered long after Paulson has been pensioned off.

A proper RCMP Officer, Sir Sam Steele.
Steele had no need for fake medals, but then again, of his six gongs, four were for  fighting in actual wars.