BASS: The devil is sweater shopping as Dale teams up with RCMP

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Several years ago, I wrote a series of stories on a police detachment and allegations of abuse — not the one in Kamloops; I was working somewhere else and the local officers didn’t really like the stories.

I was in the community for just a few weeks, covering for an editor who was off sick, and was commuting from my home to the other city each day.

After the first couple of stories ran, I found I would pick up a cruiser tail just as I entered the city.

It followed me to the office.

This continued every day for some time.

It was disconcerting, to say the least, but it wasn’t the first — nor last — time an officer of the law has made it clear he wasn’t too happy with my writing.

I tell you this because, no doubt to the delight of at least a couple of local Mounties, I will be arrested on Nov. 24.

I know this because my friend — possibly my only police friend — Sgt. Scott Wilson — told me it will happen.

In fact, he’ll be here at the office to slap the cuffs on, although I suspect Supt. Yves Lacasse, who will be travelling with Wilson that day, would rather do that deed.

In fact, Wilson said Lacasse got a truly fascinating smile on his face when my name was suggested.

OK, fascinating isn’t the adjective he used — but you get the idea.

Apparently, I’ll get to ride in the back seat of their cruiser to their jail-for-the-day, which will be in that oh-so-subtle location of the lobby at the Tournament Capital Centre.

(Did I mention I also did columns saying we didn’t need to build it or spend all that money on sports venues that we eventually did spend?)

It’s all part of Jail and Bail, a fundraiser the local RCMP detachment is holding that day for the Thompson-Nicola-Cariboo United Way.

The pair will be “arresting” a bunch of us in the city, throwing us into their cell and keeping us there until we can pay for our release.

Apparently, that’s a minimum $500 we’re each going to have to raise.

Now, around the office, there’s some speculation I won’t be able to do this.

A couple of my colleagues think there are some people who would be delighted to let me rot, so to speak, and never see the light of day again.

Thankfully, our publisher recognizes the value of having me back at work on Nov. 25, as he was the first to kick in some cash for the collection.

I’m pretty sure he’ll write it off as a business expense — but, it’s the thought that counts, right?

I’ll be making some visits to other co-workers whose kids have sold me chocolate almonds/cookies/whatever through the years, too.

I think I can rely on my family — at least some of them — to kick in a bit to get the official operator of the washing machine back before they run out of clothes.

My husband has already stepped up.

He was my second donor, doubling my first-day total of this three-week fundraising campaign — after he stopped laughing at the idea of me and the RCMP co-operating on anything.

The beauty of this fundraiser is anyone can contribute to my own personal Get-Out-Of-Jail-Not-For-Free fund.

There are several ways you can do this:

The wonderful women at the front office here at KTW can accept donations for me if I’m not at my desk.

You can send your donations directly to the United Way at its office at 203-239 Victoria St. (please leave some sort of indicator that you’re trying to help spring me). Everything greater than $5 will receive an income-tax receipt.

If you prefer the personal touch, you can check kamloopsthisweek.com on Nov. 24 for any updates on when the cops have taken me away and then pop into the TCC.

All of us helping out can keep our cellphones with us, too, so I can do regular tweets (@mdalebass).

This is a neat fundraiser — but, don’t think I haven’t noticed the RCMP have all the rest of us doing the work while Wilson and Lacasse have all the fun — and it helps a great organization in the city.

It’s a no-brainer to support.

Joining in are Mayor Peter Milobar, TIB Chief Shane Gottfriedson, Steve Earle and Andrew Neuner, among others.

I have just one request — leave the tasers at the office, guys!

Dale Bass is a reporter with Kamloops This Week. Her email address is here. Her blog can be found here.