RCMP Watch

(Canadian Press) - Backpedalling after a week of denials, the RCMP apologized to the family of a murdered university professor after admitting they were warned in advance by a relative about the potential for violence.

Assistant Commissioner Darrell LaFosse, the RCMP’s commander in New Brunswick, said he has ordered an independent review of the force’s handling of the case prior to the murder last week of John McKendy, 59.

A spokesperson for the force repeatedly told reporters over the past week that family members didn’t [Read more →]

(CTV.ca) - New Brunswick RCMP issued an apology Thursday, after admitting they had received a warning from Professor John McKendy’s family about the man who is suspected in his killing.

The 60-year-old St. Thomas University sociology professor was found dead in his home on Oct. 31. Police said he died after being struck with a blunt object.

On Nov. 1, police identified Nicholas Wade Baker, 27, as the prime suspect.

That same day Baker was found dead in a car in Moncton, N.B. Police do not suspect foul play in his death. [Read more →]

Sexual advances to superiors’ wives, drunk driving and consorting with criminals are among 106 proven cases of misconduct of municipal police officers in B.C. over the past two years, CBC News has learned.

Eight of the officers were to be fired but resigned before their disciplinary proceedings began or ended, according to a report by the British Columbia Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.

CBC News requested that the office compile the data to find out how many police officers in B.C. conducted themselves inappropriately on the job. The figures include various municipal police forces in the province [Read more →]

John Colebourn (Canwest News Service) - The head of the twice-delayed inquiry into Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski’s death after he was Tasered in the Vancouver airport says he’ll subpoena the four RCMP officers involved, if necessary, to avoid further delays.

Retired B.C. Appeal Court Justice Thomas Braidwood said the inquiry will start Jan. 19 even if the Crown has not decided whether charges should be laid against any or all of the officers.

“Although we are still hoping that the Crown’s decision will be made soon, the commission’s lawyers are in the process of preparing subpoenas for the officers involved and for other potential witnesses linked to the [Read more →]

(CBC) - There are new questions about how the RCMP treated e-mails from Nicholas Wade Baker, who was charged with the murder of a St. Thomas University professor who was his father-in-law.

The body of John McKendy, 60, was found in his home just outside Fredericton last Friday. His son-in-law, Baker, 27, was charged with first-degree murder, but was found dead on Saturday in the parking lot of a Moncton hotel.

Police ruled out foul play in Baker’s death. [Read more →]

Petti Fong (Montreal Star) Vancouver, B.C. - Three police officers arrested for impaired driving in three separate incidents in British Columbia is distressing news for Bob Rorison of MADD’s Greater Vancouver chapter.

But Rorison believes others will likely be more upset than him.

“You can bet next time any police officer stops someone for drinking and driving, they’ll get a loudmouth drunk, screaming that police have no right to make arrests because they’re worse than anyone,” said Rorison. [Read more →]

(Vancouver Sun) - If there’s one organization that doesn’t need any more bad publicity, it’s the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So why does the force seem hell-bent on further tarnishing its reputation?

It has been more than year since Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski died at Vancouver International Airport after being Tasered by four Mounties. And we still have no word on whether any of them will be charged with an offence.

As in any case, this delay — nay, denial — of justice is bad for everyone: For Dziekanski’s mother Zofia, who wants to know what happened to her son and why, for members of the public, whose faith in the national [Read more →]

Ian Bailey, Vancouver, BC (Globe and Mail) - Robert Dziekanski’s mother, frustrated at delays in an inquest into the death of her son after he was tasered last year, is considering legal action against the Mounties who used the device and others linked to the matter, her lawyer says.

Walter Kosteckyj, speaking for Zofia Cisowski, raised the possibility yesterday after news that the Braidwood inquiry is being delayed for the second time.

“If this thing is delayed much further, there are civil remedies available,” he said, indicating the officers involved, Vancouver airport and other “various entities” might be targeted. [Read more →]

Ian Bailey, Vancouver, B.C. (Globe and Mail) - One of the four officers involved in the fatal confrontation with Robert Dziekanski is now facing charges of impaired driving after a 21-year-old man was killed in a collision over the weekend.

RCMP spokesman Sergeant Tim Shields confirmed an off-duty member of the force was involved in the collision that resulted in the death of motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson.

The officer, who serves on the Olympic Integrated Security Unit, has been released on a promise to appear for impaired driving causing death and exceeding the legal limit. [Read more →]

Ottawa (Canadian Press) - A new RCMP report says the Mounties get no special training on how to use Tasers in a jailhouse setting.

This despite the fact about one in every 10 people hit with an RCMP stun gun late last year was behind bars. The figures are found in a quarterly report on Taser use quietly made public by the national police force.

It recommends cell-block scenarios be included in RCMP training sessions on Tasers. [Read more →]