Tamsyn Burgman, Vancouver, B.C. (Canadian Press) – Veteran RCMP officer Corporal Benjamin (Monty) Robinson, whose involvement in Robert Dziekanski’s death and unrelated conviction in a fatal accident made him an example of the bad apples the Mounties have been unable to fire, has voluntarily left the force.
Mr. Robinson’s discharge papers were signed Friday, the same day the disgraced officer was in a British Columbia court for sentencing for obstructing justice following the fatal crash in 2008, said Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens.
“I received Mr. Robinson’s RCMP discharge documents and I signed them,” Deputy Commissioner Callens, the force’s top commander in B.C., said in a statement.
“While I have been clear that I was seeking his involuntary dismissal, the opportunity to discharge him from the organization this morning was one which eliminated further delays, costs and uncertainty.”
Mr. Robinson’s discharge means he will no longer face internal discipline but his legal troubles could continue for some time.
The 42-year-old was convicted this year of obstruction of justice after his vehicle struck and killed 21-year-old motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson in Delta, south of Vancouver, in October, 2008.
Mr. Robinson and three other Mounties are also facing perjury charges in connection with their testimony at the public inquiry into Mr. Dziekanski’s death at Vancouver’s airport.
Mr. Robinson told his obstruction of justice trial that, immediately after the 2008 crash, he went home and drank two shots of vodka to “calm his nerves.” A judge concluded Mr. Robinson was using his RCMP training in an attempt to fend off accusations of impaired driving.
At his sentencing hearing Friday, the Crown asked for a sentence of between three and nine months in jail or a conditional sentence of up to 18 months.
The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison.
“This was not simply an attempt to obstruct justice,” Crown lawyer Kris Pechet told the court. “It was a successful attempt that effectively misled the officers conducting the investigation of Mr. Robinson, as he knew it would.”
Mr. Robinson’s lawyer, David Crossin, submitted a binder containing letters of support for his client. Mr. Crossin also described months of treatment for alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder as he argued for the more lenient sentence.
He said Mr. Robinson is genuinely remorseful for what happened.
“To repair the damage and make amends and seek some kind of healing process … will need a lot of work in this case,” Mr. Crossin said.
“It is not just words.”
Mr. Robinson, dressed in a suit and tie, stared straight ahead during the hearing, while a packed gallery listened to the submissions.
Asked by the judge whether he wished to address the court, the man stood and uttered one sentence, inaudible to the gallery. After the hearing, his lawyer said Mr. Robinson told the court he was “exceedingly sorry” for Mr. Hutchinson’s death.
Outside court, Mr. Hutchinson’s friends and family talked about the pain they continue to feel almost four years after the young man’s death.
“It broke apart my family and the people I love, so it’s hurt everybody a lot,” said Kasey Schell, Mr. Hutchinson’s step-sister.
“He [Mr. Robinson] hasn’t shown any remorse to me or my family, from what I’ve heard. Maybe that would be a different story, if [we got] a heartfelt apology. But his silence so far has been just cowardly to me.”
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Your question is legitimate, so you should ask the Crown why charges were not laid.
A better question is to ask the person who decided that he should keep his job- Why?
Hey johnnyG, what does this mean:
He was canned for this, as he should have been. But, how is it that he lost his job for consensually offering money for sex, when these higher ranking members kept their jobs tried to take it for free, without such consent.
Who are you talking about?
My apologies for not explaining it better. What I was getting at was Sgt. Robert Blundell and the allegations of sexual assault against him by 4 women. The “taking it for free” part was in reference to sex, that at least Dorrington was trying to pay for and not force upon un- consenting persons.
DT, that is great Dorrington was convictied- it really was. But, why wasn’t Blundell charged with a criminal code offense and terminated? Perhaps it was he had some friends in high places….
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/09/bc-rcmp-harassment-blundell-german.html
I would argue by any standard, what Blundell did was much worse than what Dorrington did. One got fired, the other got promoted.
I would submit johhnyG that there are some disparities you failed to mention. Lyndon Dorrington was convicted of the Criminal Code offense of solicitation by a Judge in court in Halifax. He testified he was doing “research” as he was on leave from the RCMP organization to obtain a law degree. The Judge in the case did not accept his testimony which means he lied in the eyes of the Judge. I would assume his dismissal encompassed more than just the criminal conviction.
“I remain committed to exercising my full authority, as the Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP, to address matters of employee conduct in the most efficient manner possible”.
Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens
This dismissal was cut and dry. Robinson deserved to be terminated and he was. I hope Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens will be just as committed when he is dealing with proven misconduct by connected, influential, commissioned RCMP officers who deserve dismissal.
Calvin, I am sure you remember the Dorrington case from the mid 1990’s. For anyone who doesn’t know, that was the member/constable that was busted by the city police for soliciting an undercover officer who was posing as a prostitute, for sex.
He was canned for this, as he should have been. But, how is it that he lost his job for consensually offering money for sex, when these higher ranking members kept their jobs tried to take it for free, without such consent.
I believe rank was a factor and most likely race as he was black.
I don’t think it’s racist that Dorrington lost his job. I think it’s racist that for doing worse, these other clowns KEPT their jobs!
Statement by Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, Commanding Officer of the RCMP in British Columbia
Mr. Robinson has been the subject of statutory and internal Code of Conduct investigations. This morning I received Mr.Robinson’s RCMP discharge documents and I signed them. Mr. Robinson voluntarily submitted these documents.
While I have been clear that I was seeking his involuntary dismissal, the opportunity to discharge him from the organization this morning was one which eliminated further delays, costs and uncertainty.
Mr. Robinson’s career with the RCMP has ended. As a private citizen he is no longer subject to any disciplinary actions under the RCMP Act, however, he is still subject to the ongoing criminal matters.
I remain committed to exercising my full authority, as the Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP, to address matters of employee conduct in the most efficient manner possible.
Source: Vancouver Sun