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The top Mountie in Quebec issued an apology to the National Congress of Italian-Canadians for how the RCMP named and described an organized-crime bust two weeks ago.
On June 12, the RCMP released details on “Project Clemenza,” apparently named in reference to character Peter Clemenza in The Godfather series of novels and movies. The RCMP said that project Clemenza was successful in dismantling two “Italian-based” organized-crime cells.
Wednesday, following complaints that the naming and description of Project Clemenza perpetuated stereotypes against Italians, the RCMP apologized for the wording in a letter addressed to two executives of the Italian-Canadian group.
In it, Francois Deschenes, assistant commissioner and commanding officer for the Quebec detachment, says the police force meant no harm and measures have been taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
The organization says it is satisfied with the RCMP response to its concerns and believes the force has understood the code name only serves to reinforce long-standing stereotypes.
The RCMP intercepted more than one million private PIN to PIN messages as part of an anti-Mafia sweep against two organizations that led to more than 30 arrests earlier this month.
The accused face different charges that include gangsterism, conspiracy, drug importation, trafficking, possession, kidnapping, forcible confinement, possession of weapons and explosives, arson, extortion and assault.
Agencies/Canadajournal
