Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 03/99) - As a police officer, Harvey Pierrot is used to being insulted and abused by people he arrests and puts in the drunk tanks.

"A lot of it is really belligerent," he said.

"They're calling us pigs and spitting on us. Sometimes they resort to violence."

On Tuesday, the most extreme example of disrespect for the RCMP Pierrot said he's ever seen pleaded guilty and was convicted of driving while impaired.

The man, who had over 70 convictions, was so sexually obscene to Pierrot, both verbally and physically, the Crown prosecutor was reluctant to describe his acts in court during sentencing.

"He was just really gross. Given what I've seen, he was pretty much (the worst)," Pierrot told Yellowknifer, shaking his head.

"Here's another man serving a life sentence on the instalment plan," Judge Michel Bourassa said as he sentenced the man to two months, twice the length of time requested by the Crown.

Some people also attack police officers during an arrest, Pierrot said.

"I've been attacked a few times," he said. "We usually use our tools in situations like that. Pepper spray is usually the first thing we use, and it works."

Pierrot said it's nothing personal.

"The majority of this is that they're drunk," he said. "They're drunk and in trouble and because you're dealing with them they try to make you miserable."

Pierrot has been in Yellowknife for a year and a half. Before that, he served as a community constable in Fort Good Hope, his home town.

"I was a liaison between the community and the RCMP," he said.

"People respected me and my position because I made myself visible and available at all times."

He said he often interviewed elders when they came to the police, because he speaks North Slavey.

Yellowknife is a lot different, Pierrot said.

"The workload here is certainly increased," he said. "I don't have time to spend and visit with people anymore."

Pierrot said most of the people he puts in cells are not rude. He said the drunk tank "regulars" hardly ever get unruly.

"A lot of the time they thank us, because they have a place to stay for the night," he said.

Does he ever let the insults and the spit get to him?

"No. I more or less just ignore what they say. If we let every little thing they say get to us, we'd be nuts here," Pierrot said.

"Sometimes it does upset me when they insult me for being native, or threaten my family. Then, it gets personal. But what can you do?"