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.