RCMP Watch

Jonathan Fowlie (Vancouver Sun) - Vancouver Airport staff knew within about an hour of Robert Dziekanski’s landing in Canada that the immigrant was disoriented, a report released Friday by the Vancouver Airport Authority said.

At about 4 p.m. local time on Oct. 13, the report states two customer service agents observed Dziekanski with “large beads of sweat pouring from the side of his face and temples” and said he was “pale in colour.”

One airport customer service agent said Dziekanski stared “directly into his eyes.”
The two agents reported that shortly after this exchange they witnessed a Canada Border Service Agency member determine that Dziekanski spoke Polish.

On Friday, airport officials said it is normal for passengers to look distressed when they get off international flights, and said the representatives did not see a need to call for assistance because they handed Dziekanski over to a member of the CBSA.

Robert Dziekanski died in the early morning of Oct. 14 after being tasered and then tackled by police.

In its report, the Airport Authority announced a number of changes to the airport, including a prominent customer information counter in the international baggage area, increased access to translation services and the ability for passengers to send messages outside the secured area to the public lounge once they arrive.

The airport says it will also introduce hourly walkthroughs of the baggage carousel area and washrooms to check for problems, as well as a 24-hour medical responder stationed in the airport terminal.

The changes are expected to cost $300,000 to initiate, and $ 1.3-million per year to maintain.

The Vancouver Airport Authority report also gives the most detailed public timeline of the events available so far.

In that, it says an airport official monitored Dziekanski’s pulse until the ambulance arrived.