Chase De Balinhard: System Failure or Police Blame?

In this episode, I dive into the controversial RCMP shooting of Chase De Balinhard in Surrey, British Columbia — a neurodivergent man carrying what appeared to be a firearm near a school, later revealed to be a pellet gun. While headlines rushed to condemn the police and call for inquiries, I challenge the narrative that accountability rests solely on the officers involved.

Through the lens of my own experience as a first responder, I break down how incidents escalate in microseconds, not slow-motion replays. I share personal near-death calls, life-or-death decisions made in chaos, and the harsh reality of responding without the luxury of hindsight, pause buttons, or public opinion.

This episode asks uncomfortable but necessary questions:

• How did Chase walk out of his home with a weapon unchecked?

• Why was he able to move freely around a school for so long?

• Where did the system fail him before police arrived?

• And what responsibility do families, services, and society hold?

I speak with empathy for Chase’s family and for the officers who now carry this weight. Blaming police alone ignores the deeper failures that led to tragedy.

This is a conversation about nuance, accountability, compassion, and the unseen cost of being a first responder.

If you want soundbites and outrage, this isn’t that episode.
If you want honesty, context, and humanity — press play.