MovieChat Forums > Narrow Margin (1990) Discussion > Police work across the border?

Police work across the border?

posted 15 years ago by vinterfrid-1
4 replies | jump to latest

One thing has always puzzled me - in many American films the U.S. law enforcement seem to operate in Canada regularly. Being a European, I find it hard to believe that the Canadian government would allow police forces from the U.S. to enter Canadian territory as they please. I thought Canada was a sovereign state and not the 51st state of the USA. In this film it seems natural that U.S. law enforcement is going to pick up the murder witness from a cabin in the Canadian mountains, without the Canadian police present. How can this be possible?

I'd really appreciate if someone please could enlighten me in this matter.

[–] miles-29 14 years ago

It's not, like any sovereign nation Canada doesn't permit foreign law enforcement to act within their borders without permission and, presumably, supervision. Obviously Canada has close relations with American, especially along the border, which I believe is the longest in the world between two nations, and I'm sure there are numerous examples of cooperation between the two forces. I know from news stories that there have been joint operations to shut down drug tunnels that span the border.

It's certainly possible that someone like Hackman's character would just go ahead and act on his own without informing anyone else. We know that he went to pick her up without permission from his office, it's not much of a stretch to imagine he didn't inform Canadian police that he was going. Part of the necessary procedure mentioned by his boss could have been to inform RCMP that they were going to pick up a witness.

[–] franzkabuki 8 years ago

Hackman's and Walsh's trip to Canada wasn't officially sanctioned - they were there essentially as private persons trying to persuade the witness to return to the States with them (however, they had no authority to force her to come).

"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

[–] lexusis 8 years ago

American police cross into Canada all the time (and vice versa). For example, Canadian police arrest someone who has warrants in the USA. The US police drive up and pick them up.

[–] akingofcomedy 8 years ago

I think when they are taking a suspect into custody, it's a more official capacity where notification is made. Since L.A. DAs would not have jurisdiction outside of LA County, they would likely have local law enforcement assist.

However this was a witness - and only a prospective witness at that. A prosecutor would not require official permission to simply strike up a conversation. Once the gunfire begins, he's more intentionally flying under the radar to protect the witness, and not skirting international relations. IMO