Osoyoos Times editor apologizes for editorial

Keith Lacey (Photo: The Osoyoos Times)

by Dave Preston

The editor of the Osoyoos Times has apologized to the RCMP officer he slammed in a recent editorial over a breathalyzer test.

“I owe a sincere and heartfelt apology to Cpl. Ryan S. McLeod of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for comments that appeared in the Wednesday, Feb. 8 edition of the Osoyoos Times,” Editor Keith Lacey wrote in an editorial published on the Osyoos Times website February 12.

“I fully realize the experienced officer was only doing his job the night in question and my over reaction to what happened between he and I was inappropriate, regardless of what transpired during those 20 minutes,” said Lacey.

In his original editorial, Lacey said he was humuliated after being pulled over by McLeod and being asked to take a breathalyzer. Lacey said the officer made him feel like a criminal and that he was traumatized by the situation.

RCMP Supt. Ray Bernoties countered Lacey’s editorial with a letter to the editor that revealed there was video from McLeod’s car of the incident. Bernoties said the video shows a professional police officer carrying out his duties.

Read the PeachlandNews.com Dave’s Blog editorial: Dear Osoyoos Times

The Osoyoos Times removed Lacey’s editorial from its website, but a cached version went viral. Interviewed by several media outlets on the situation, Lacey said he would retract the editorial but not apologize.

Read the PeachlandNews.com Dave’s Blog editorial: Dear Osoyoos Times Take 2

“As has been pointed out to me in clear detail since this incident, Cpl. McLeod takes the issue of drinking and driving very seriously and he is well within his rights as a police officer in British Columbia to pull over anyone he suspects may have been consuming alcohol,” wrote Lacey Sunday.