Don't mess with Earl

After months of debate, delay, and process, Hamilton has an official integrity commissioner. We first reported on this back at the beginning of the month, and the city made it official on Christmas Eve.

Earl Basse has a very impressive resume and lots of investigative experience. Get to know him here and here.

I thought I would leave you with an interesting tidbit that I found while searching through our archives. This little article ran in the Spec back in 1995.

The moral of this story? Don't mess with Earl.

Mayor gets black eye before overpowering robber in hotel room
10/07/1995

A B.C. mayor is sporting a black eye today after overpowering a would-be robber in a downtown hotel room.

Sechelt Mayor Earl Basse and Councillor Duncan Fraser and their wives were having a quiet drink before a dinner reception when a gunman wearing a ski mask burst into the room and demanded money.

Mr. Basse said he confronted the robber, who punched him in the face.

"And then we went at it," he said. "We got him to the ground and Councillor Fraser gave me a hand and we held him until the police arrived."

It seems the robber took on the wrong man. Mr. Basse retired as an inspector after 25 years in the RCMP. He said he recognized the gun was a fake.

The civic leaders were in Vancouver for the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

-The Canadian Press

Comments

[Markalanwhittle]

And here's more ijnfo respecting Mr. Basse.
--
http://www.cosmicscribbler.com/To%20Catch%20A%20Liar.htm

Prepare to be Friendly

Earl Basse of Basse & Associates located in Waterloo, Ontario, is a corporate security and forensic audit specialist.

He formerly ran the audit unit for the Vancouver Stock Exchange, worked in the forensic accounting unit of accounting firm KPMG International, and served in the Canadian Mounties.

He says that preparation is the key to every interview or interrogation.

Basse recommends using open-ended questions requiring more than a “yes” or “no” answer and keeping the suspect talking.

“Once they start talking, don’t interrupt,” Basse says. He suggests nodding and leaning forward to show interest and attention, but staying out of the suspect’s personal space — about two or three feet.

He uses a less confrontational stance compared to other experts, and does not recommend accusing suspects from the outset.

“Gain their trust,” Basse says. “They should know where you’re coming from. Don’t bring them in under false pretenses. If they did it, they know they’re a suspect.”

Internal auditors have status in the company, he continues, and are required to look into discrepancies and asset losses, so most employees understand that they’re not in a position to refuse to talk to them.

During questioning, Basse recommends comparing known information to the suspect’s answers and noting discrepancies. In other words, an auditor should ask questions to which he or she already knows the answer.

[robbie]

Mr. Basse appears to be the right man for the job, but what is he going to cost the city? Is he an employee of the city?
His he being paid by the hour?
How can he divide his time between Windsor, his private practice and Hamilton?

[ed]

What a joke, seems like we have money to burn

[WRCU2]

Regardless of my feelings about importing talent or multitasking, Mr. Basse appears by Emma's archival accounting to be a courageous fellow. Courage is something we need very badly up in this city's halls. Now that the holiday season is nearly behind us, perhaps we will be getting back to show business soon. Unless you're an MP of course, whose paid holiday will extend to almost St. Patrick's day.

I would like to mention to Mr. Basse that as a plumber's helper, if I took a month to discover a leak I wouldn't have just cause to strike, I would be out of a job.

So break a leg Earl! This is after all just theatrics and I hope you pass the audition. I'm sure we would all like to know if you'll be getting your feet wet in wastewater at Woodward for your very first dress rehearsal in Hamilton. Whitehead's case is merely a drop in the bucket, a little something to moisten your resolve.

[Cal DiFalco]

I think we should give Mr. Basse a chance. We will know soon enough whether the position is working out as intended.

Cal DiFalco
www.thehamiltonian.net