Winnipeg, MB (Canadian Press) – A Manitoba municipality trying to stop the takeover of its police service says the Mounties are too short-staffed to do a proper job.
Justice Minister Dave Chomiak disbanded the East St. Paul police Monday following a report into a fatal crash caused by an off-duty police officer. The report suggested East St. Paul’s former police chief and another officer botched the investigation into the crash.
Lawrence Morris, mayor of the Winnipeg bedroom community of 9,000, said the sudden decision has left residents shocked and angry.
“They (local force) can respond to a call within seven minutes and we’re out here 24-7,” he said in an interview Tuesday. “With the RCMP, our citizens are not going to get that service. They’re short-staffed. They’re not on-call 24/7 …By the time they get out to the call, it’s hours, maybe sometimes even days.”
Winnipeg constable Derek Harvey-Zenk was charged in February 2005 after he smashed into Crystal Taman’s car at a red light after he had been drinking all night with fellow officers. The crash was initially investigated by the East St. Paul police.
Harvey-Zenk was originally charged with impaired driving causing death, refusing a breathalyzer and other offences. But most of the charges were stayed and he was sentenced to two years of house arrest after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
Public outrage over the plea bargain and sentence prompted the province to call an inquiry.
The retired Ontario judge who headed the review concluded that the investigation by East St. Paul police was “riddled with incompetence” and in part “conducted in bad faith.”
Roger Salhany made 14 recommendations which included an independent agency to investigate criminal allegations involving police and a further look at the role of several former East St. Paul officers in the Harvey-Zenk case. He also suggested a review of the training standards for the municipal force.
But Chomiak went further and decided to replace the detachment immediately. He informed local councillors of his decision in a letter. After having read the inquiry report, Chomiak said he couldn’t “feel confident for public safety.”
The RCMP have better resources and can tackle more complicated cases, he said Tuesday.
“That’s always the advantage when you bring the RCMP in – the RCMP brings in a whole bevy of support services,” said Chomiak, pointing to sniffer dogs and major crime units. “There will be as many police officers in East St. Paul with the RCMP as there is right now.”
The province is committed to following the recommendations in the report, Chomiak said, including possibly creating a provincial police training centre.
But Morris said the local police force has been under intense scrutiny and has greatly improved since the crash that killed the mother of three. A recent review conducted by the RCMP and Brandon police found local officers were providing “good service,” he added.
“It’s a political decision,” Morris said. “It’s a diversion tactic to take the heat off the Justice Department … This was one man’s decision to take away our policing. How can he justify it?”
Morris and others are urging residents to write letters, send emails, start petitions and call Chomiak’s office to urge him to reconsider.
“I don’t know if that’s the way to go, but we have to do something,” Morris said. “We can’t let it die.”
Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen said the police force was clearly plagued with problems. But he said the community needs reassurance that its policing won’t suffer because of politically motivated damage control.
“It looks to me to be an attempt to create the impression of strong action in the fallout of the report when there are so many other issues,” McFadyen said. “We want to see some assurances that if the department is disbanded, people are going to get the same level of service.”
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