(SGT?) Franck Gervais (split from Walts, posers)

[Strike]

Being a narcissist is not a good enough excuse to pretend to be a soldier.  Heck, most actors are narcissist to some type of extent.  But they worked hard in order to achieve their fame.  Same goes with many politicians.

The only excuse for him doing what he did is that he was too lazy to actually work hard to get the fame he feels of which he is deserving.

 

[Pieman]

So you are somehow able to infer based a on short video and a few FB  posts that all he was doing was creating a fantasy world? :  His employer has gone on record saying that he has claimed military service for YEARS, so really at this point WE (the general public) have no clue just how long he has been doing this, and what benefits he has been able to garner directly or indirectly from his claims. 

You're right, we don't know the extend of this. That is why I wrote 'appeared' to be. There is not indication that he has done anything than play dress up at this point. However, that may certainly change. (but I personally doubt it will)

Also why is it now whenever people to anything remotely outside the norms of society, suddenly they are mentally ill?  I

It's not a blanket statement, its getting at the root cause of the behavior.  Do you consider the behavior of dressing up in a uniform for the purpose of garnishing attention (if that's what is really going on) to be normal behavior? I don't see the actions (thus far) as nefarious in nature, just twisted and demented. I am in no ways saying he is not accountable for his actions. Rather it's the root cause of the actions that are of interest here. To the original point I was trying to make, all these things will be taken into account if/when he faces a judge. I don't think we should expect to have him handled in a heavy handed way unless there is something more sinister going on.

 

[Danjanou]

Moe

I have seen those words on some of the FB forums of military members, and have seen them in the past on this very site.  Most have been 'Black Humour' and never followed through in reality, nor involved contact with individuals.  I hope the some numpties have not in reality phoned 'death threats' to this family, but there may still be a 'perceived' threat.  It would not be beyond the imagination for an offender to think that 'the world was now out to get them'.

Seen and I've seen them to as you know. While many may be written off as venting  and/or black humour among  the military ( serving and retired) community, not all will see it that way. If /when this goes to trial any defence attorney worth his/her salary would not hesitate to use this as some sort of mitigating circumstance in regards to sentencing if not as suggested to taint other aspects of the case.

 

[Danjanou]

Ah! Com'on guys: Posing as a reservist is the greatest thing: You have the perfect cover with the wife to go to the bar with your pals two nights a week, on a week-end "escapade" eight times a year and go fishing with the boys two weeks every summer.

Brilliant why did I not think of this before, and when she asks where your Class A pay is, jus tpoint out the MO screwed up again. I have to hit a surplus store on the way home from work and kit myself out.

"Honey you're not going to believe it, but the Army called, apparently I've been called back to the Colours for at least 2-4 years so can't come to your sisters with you this Saturday."

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Did a search for this "statement" on google and didn't turn up anything. 

Hopefully it is an apology which, I think, will help the situation.  Where as a "justification/explanation" will just make mad people madder.

 

[Pieman]

The anticipation! I'm betting on an apology and the water works....hopefully he won't wear the uniform this time.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Might've busted himself down to Cpl  >

 

[Tibbson]

In fact the police themselves do not have to wait to commence an investigation for some member of the public to call. There is no part of the criminal code that says that the Ottawa PS can't commence an investigation till "someone" complains. Many times police locate criminals driving stolen vehicles before they are reported stolen by the owner.

In a case such as this they in fact do not know the vehicle is stolen.  It could have simply been lent to the person driving it.  Until they speak with the owner, IF they event take the opportunity to speak to the registered owner, the vehicle is not consider stolen if nobody complains about it.

Or find criminals involved in break and enters and thefts, arrest them and later track down the owner to provide a statement. I know of criminals who were arrested by solid proactive police work, held in custody, went to court at first appearance, plead guilty and before the owner was even aware of the crime the criminals were in jail.

I call BS on that one.  Yes, police may find someone they suspect breaking into a location and in such case the person is under investigative detention until the matter can be cleared up.  I have also never heard of anyone pleading guilty at first appearance and then being convicted and sentenced immediately.  Also, without a complainant to speak to the illegality of the act the Crown would not be able to make a case.  Sure, the police may catch Bubba breaking into my house and a check of Bubba's ID shows that he lives 50 miles away but that is hardly grounds to convict even if he pleads guilty.

Nothing was stopping OPS from the start. They could have watched the interview on the internet, got a production order for the tape, another for military records, honours awarded by the GG, done open source search to ID suspect, etc, etc, etc. Eventually get reasonable and probable grounds, swear an Information, obtain summons or public interest warrant and start the court process. 
That is how many child porn files get solved.

1.  a production order is of no value in a case such as this.  CBC is not a third party holder of a document or record.  They are hold material evidence.  As well, ALL media in Canada hold their independence and privacy rights quite close to the vest and getting a warrant for a media agency is almost as difficult as getting a warrant for a lawyers office. 

2.  Child porn cases get solved because police have a start point such as a seized electronic device which they have lawfully obtained because of a complaint against the device owner (the complainant) or electronic records that indicate trafficking of child porn images provided by an ISP who is again...the complainant.  Once this is established the rest of the investigation carries on but in both cases there is some form of complainant otherwise cops would be just walking up to people, seizing their cell phones/tablets/computers and starting an investigation.

The one thing common in all of this is there is some form of complainant.  This wasn't the case with this alleged Sgt at the start however since that time someone has been able (willing?) to step forward and act as a complainant. 

 

[Tibbson]

The word you are both looking for is precedent.  But yes hopefully the precedent and the president will change in the future.  ;D

Autocorrect strikes again.  lol  Thats what I get for posting from my iPhone.

 

[cupper]

The word you are both looking for is precedent.  But yes hopefully the precedent and the president will change in the future.  ;D

I believe the President is scheduled to be changed on November 8th 2016. ;D

 

[Pieman]

Blog post from an Ex-pathfinder. He has some good points. Given the number of curse words used, it's probably legit.

http://www.publicpolicypirate.com/2014/11/this-real-pathfinder-is-now-standing-up.html

 

[cupper]

Blog post from an Ex-pathfinder. He has some good points. Given the number of curse words used, it's probably legit.

http://www.publicpolicypirate.com/2014/11/this-real-pathfinder-is-now-standing-up.html

I agree to a point with what he posted. However losing his job is pretty much a done deal. If the company needs to be bonded, then Gervais is unemployable upon conviction. If he had his (fake) prior military service listed on his resume or job application, it's grounds for dismissal having lied on the application. And would you really want to employ someone who is dishonest enough to do something like this, regardless of what the screwed up reasoning for it was?

It's not about punishing the a$$hat, it's about what is best for the company and the other employees. I know if he had done that down here, there wouldn't have even been any question, his job would disappear faster than Democratic voters at midterms, none of this "suspended with pay until we figure out what we are going to do with you".

 

[George Wallace]

I agree to a point with what he posted. However losing his job is pretty much a done deal. If the company needs to be bonded, then Gervais is unemployable upon conviction. If he had his (fake) prior military service listed on his resume or job application, it's grounds for dismissal having lied on the application. And would you really want to employ someone who is dishonest enough to do something like this, regardless of what the screwed up reasoning for it was?

It's not about punishing the a$$hat, it's about what is best for the company and the other employees. I know if he had done that down here, there wouldn't have even been any question, his job would disappear faster than Democratic voters at midterms, none of this "suspended with pay until we figure out what we are going to do with you".

Agreed.  If he lied about his military service, what else did he lie about?

 

[Danjanou]

Blog post from an Ex-pathfinder. He has some good points. Given the number of curse words used, it's probably legit.

http://www.publicpolicypirate.com/2014/11/this-real-pathfinder-is-now-standing-up.html

Oh he's legit and well known to a few regulars on here, good guy.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Other then the death threats I disagree with ever point he makes.

 

[PuckChaser]

I would hope that more people are pissed he's wearing a medal of bravery, vice the Patrol Pathfinder badge...

 

[Pieman]

Excellent article on CBC site about why people impersonate soldiers:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sergeant-franck-gervais-scandal-why-people-impersonate-soldiers-1.2833964

Some individuals who impersonate police officers, firefighters or soldiers may be narcissistic and depressed, seeking to bypass their mundane life and experience, even briefly, for their own "moment in the sun."

"A lot of times it's extreme narcissism," said Max Wachtel, a Denver-based forensic psychologist. "The person really feels like they have to have that attention paid to them. It comes across as almost psychotic or delusional, because it's just such an unusual way to go about getting attention."

"The person is lying so much they start to believe it themselves that this is true. This is a common pattern for people who do this."

I liked this part here:

Many impostors are living mundane, boring or uneventful lives, Berrill said, adding that depression is often at the core of their behaviour. They may also have issues related to masculine inadequacy, and pretending to be soldiers, police officers or firefighters is a way of achieving some recognition and bolstering their sense of self.

Also, with regards to the person understanding of their actions:

They are also incapable of realizing that their impersonation is insulting and distressing to those individuals who really have served or are currently serving in those roles, or family members who have lost loved ones.

"And I don’t think they have the capacity, psychologically, to really consider those issues, because as part of the depression I’d also say there’s an infantile narcissism. Meaning, like babies, like young infants, they’re trying to be gratified through these acts."

 

[Remius]

And done.

http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/News/index.aspx?newsId=3c548498-4080-4a13-9c33-d4f291761920

Looks like four counts.  Hopefully this will be an example to others trying this.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

No example if he gets a slap on the wrist

 

[Remius]

No example if he gets a slap on the wrist

Getting charged is enough for me. I really don't care what the punishment is.  At least something was done.

The public national flogging was also good as well.