Kamloops City Hall ups security in response to heckling, threats

"THERE HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENING MOMENTS FOR ME OVER THIS TERM FOR SURE." Politicians expect criticism when they take the job, but the rhetoric at Kamloops City Hall has gotten more severe this term. After this week's meeting, some councillors were escorted to their vehicles in case of safety risks. City council meetings have increasingly been interrupted with heckling and jeering from the gallery has become more persistent, leading to two men nearly getting escorted from out of the building, Tuesday afternoon. Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, whose job it is to chair the meetings, did little to stifle the jeers and the aggression that came from at least one resident at the podium. "It's unlike anything that's been seen in Kamloops before and it is tremendously challenging for us to do the work that we have been commissioned into while being heckled in our own chambers. While experiencing rage, yelling and mockery from the gallery, we have important business that we're there to do," Coun. Katie Neustaeter said in an interview. Neustaeter was one of a few councillors to be escorted out of City Hall on Aug. 27 at the end of the meeting. Staff have been taking notice of potential security risks for several months and taking measures to address them. READ MORE: BUILD KAMLOOPS: Why these BC cities cancelled their counter petitions https://infotel.ca/newsitem/build-kamloops-why-these-bc-cities-cancelled-their-counter-petitions/it106294 Bylaw officers are now guarding over council chambers to keep order in the room. Councillors cannot be alone in some areas of city hall and will be accompanied by a bylaw officer. Parking spots for administrative staff that once named who they were reserved for are now numbered. Those are a few of the measures now in place, but it's not just because of heckling in council chambers. Staff took notice of one social media post that appeared threatening to councillors. "We know where they live, it's not going to end well for them," the social media comment reads. It hasn't materialized in physical violence, but it was enough to cause concern among staff and council. Neustaeter wouldn't comment on whether any of the behaviour directed toward councillors were reported to police. "There have been frightening moments for me over this term for sure. Whether that's the online social media rhetoric, misinformation about me personally, ... and also the mob mentality of it -- the piling on. In an elected position, there's no way to really defend yourself," she said. She added that it's on elected leaders to "set the tone" of a meeting, while refraining from "encouraging" the behaviour. Whether the mayor will do much to calm the in-council behaviour unlikely. READ MORE: Kamloops council meeting goes off the rails; mayor removed as chair again https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-council-meeting-goes-off-the-rails-mayor-removed-as-chair-again/it106326 On Aug. 27, failed council candidate and Kamloops resident Mac Gordon was at the podium for several minutes during the council meeting, directing ire toward city manager Byron McCorkell, whom he accused of lying. Gordon was visibly angry during the meeting, shaking in his chair and groaning before even standing up to the podium. After calls from other councillors not to disrespect staff, Hamer-Jackson eventually tried to have Gordon step away from the podium, but he refused. Council took a five minute break and Gordon was threatened with removal by bylaw officers. "All he would've needed to do in a case like that would be bang his gavel, recess the meeting and ask (bylaws) to escort him out," Coun. Margot Middleton said of the mayor.  "He had the authority to act." Hamer-Jackson did tell those in the audience to keep quiet while council was in session, but in the next breath told councillors to do the same. "It's kind of odd, people in the gallery laugh and things like that, we jump all over them, yet we have a council member laughing. I think it should be equal for all," he said. The mayor would later laugh when councillors temporarily removed him as chair of the meeting. He also asked staff multiple times for a "device" to record comments from other councillors that aren't recorded on microphones. No one gave him the "device" he requested. Kamloops council is one of only a few elected bodies in the Thompson-Okanagan that's faced heckling from the public and concern for security risks. READ MORE: 'Dangerous': Vernon intersection where teen was killed scares many https://infotel.ca/inwheels/dangerous-vernon-intersection-where-teen-was-killed-scares-many/it106295 The Vernon School District opted to stop holding in-person board meetings earlier this year after persistent disruptions from anti-SOGI 123 protestors. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-video-vernon-school-board-meeting-disrupted-and-shut-down-by-protesters/it102251 Their behaviour led the school board to shut down a meeting at least once and now holds them virtually only. The Central Okanagan school district also faced similar protesters during the COVID-19 pandemic and still does experience regular demonstrations from the anti-SOGI crowd, but it has not led to any safety concerns for the board or administration, according to Supt. Kevin Kaardal. Kelowna and Penticton city halls have no such issues and nor does the Kamloops-Thompson school district, when asked by iNFOnews.ca. The City of Vernon did not respond to inquiries from iNFOnews.ca. 'WHAT WE ARE SEEING BEING WELCOMED INTO COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FRANKLY, IS THE WAY (THE MAYOR) OPERATES' Kamloops city manager Byron McCorkell and protective services director Ken Uzeloc also did not respond to inquiries. Neustaeter isn't the only councillor who's facing harassing emails or that was escorted away out of council on Aug. 27. Middleton, however, said she isn't one of those who have been targeted. Middleton did suggest that council should consider setting more rules around the portion of council meetings set aside for public inquiries. Kamloops is in the minority of cities that reserve time for the public to speak relatively freely at council meetings, provided they're related to the day's agenda, but it's not something she feels should be removed. Coun. Mike O'Reilly even more directly pointed blame at the mayor for failing to keep order in the room, but he said Hamer-Jackson "thrives" on the behaviour. He said people in the room who commentate, heckle and jeer were there to "intimidate" council. "At the end of the day, the chair needs to chair the meeting," he said. "What we are seeing being welcomed into council chambers, frankly, is the way (Hamer-Jackson) operates." Hamer-Jackson laughed when told some councillors were escorted to their vehicles. He said he had no intention to step up control in council chambers, but did point concern at councillors around him that make comments during the meeting. "When you say they're heckling, there's a lot of heckling going on right beside me," he said. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. 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