At What Cost?

Atragic incident occurred just north of Toronto recently, one that should hit home with everyone in this industry, across the country.

Detective Constable Rob Plunkett of the York Regional Police was killed while attempting to detain a suspect in a theft investigation. You may have heard the details, but more than a month has passed since, so here is, allegedly, what happened: while trying to apprehend a suspect, Plunkett became trapped by the open door as the suspect raced backward over curbs and lawn in an ill-fated attempt to make his escape. Plunkett was killed when he took the full force of an impact with a tree, the car stopping shortly after.

I did not know Plunkett. I am neither a die-hard advocate of everything the police do, nor a critic, but it is hard not to feel great sympathy for everyone involved in the incident, even the two suspects (both apprehended at the scene) who seemed little more than a couple of thieving punks, at least before now. Now at least one is facing a murder trial. So, what was the big quarry they were after that had the police so interested? Guns? Drugs? Exotic luxury cars bound for some Third World oil-rich principality? Super-sized wheels headed for some gang member’s Escalade?

Airbags. That’s right, airbags, destined for use in collision repairs.

Airbag theft is nothing new, of course–it has been documented for more than a decade. The most recent data out of the U.S. puts the annual bill at tens of million of dollars. In Markham, Ont., where Plunkett was working, 43 had been swiped in the preceding six months. That’s 43 times collision repairers took advantage of a “great deal” that would put some extra money in their pocket. A decision that eventually cost Plunkett his life.

That should be a wakeup call for anyone inside this industry who got a similar “great deal” from an underground source for airbags, or heard of one.

Some might be tempted to blame the insurance companies for creating a culture of economic desperation among collision shops, forcing them to seek questionable sources for bargain parts; others might see no connection between thefts of air bags, or other parts for that matter, and this industry.

While the vast majority of those in this business conduct themselves with the highest of ethics, my experience tells me that there are occasions where they are under pressure to do things they don’t like to do. And there are, of course, a very, very few out there who don’t give a damn what side of the law their actions fall on, as long as they make a buck.

Frankly, I believe that even those with the lowest standards might just rethink that strategy when they realize that their actions can be the catalyst for the events leading up to the death of a police officer.

There will, it seems little doubt, be promises to clamp down on the practice through greater regulation and industry governance. There are probably also those who might suggest that it’s not a big enough problem to warrant yet more legislation, regulation, or tighter controls. While I welcome the scrutiny, I’m not sure that more regulation is the answer, but asking oneself a simple question is: is working an underground deal for a few dollars worth someone’s life?

This is not a theoretical question. Everyone who has ever knowingly purchased or installed a stolen airbag, or allowed themselves to remain wilfully ignorant despite their suspicions about the source, helped contribute to the death of Detective Constable Rob Plunkett, a star police officer, 43, father of three, and an avid volunteer for good causes like the Special Olympics.

Knowing this, who could ever engage in the practice again? I can’t imagine.