Dec 13, 2013 – Vol. 18 No. 50 New RCMP unit to fight

Dec 05 2013 human-trafficking OTTAWA - The federal government has once again postponed rules on serial numbers for guns until 2015. Page 2

Dec 06 2013 EDMONTON - The has now approved the option for female officers of Muslim faith to wear a police-issued hijab headscarf while in uniform. Page 5

Dec 09 2013 The federal government is looking to outsource a study on police use of force, collecting data that could be used to better train front-line officers. Page 6 Dec 09 2013 Dec 10 2013 MONTREAL - The federal public safety making the announcement at a news conference. SYDNEY, N.S. - There appears to be minister has announced the creation “So that’s why it’s so important to deal with no movement in the positions of the of an RCMP unit that will work closely this huge challenge as a Canadian society.’’ union representing members of the with law-enforcement partners in Que- The RCMP has also developed an infor- Cape Breton Regional Police Service bec to fight human-trafficking in Cana- mation and awareness campaign aimed at and senior police officials in an on- da and abroad. youth and the aboriginal population entitled: going labour impasse. Steven Blaney says significant progress “I’m Not for Sale’’, which the federal minister Page 8 has been made over the past year but that says is providing good results. much work remains to be done on what he “It is encouraging victims to come out and Dec 11 2013 calls the despicable crime of modern-day slav- reach out to non-governmental organizations RCMP will soon be using bait sleds ery in Canada. and actually seek help and then we can pros- across the province in an effort to “Sometimes it can be a young girl who ecute traffickers,’’ he added. combat snowmobile theft. falls in love with an individual and who is then A few hours after Blaney met reporters in Page 8 pushed into prostitution - it can be as horrible as Montreal, the RCMP announced the arrest of that,’’ Blaney said in an interview Monday after four more erotic massage parlour operators. Dec 11 2013 EDMONTON - Edmonton police are looking at buying one or two $8-mil- lion twin-engined helicopters if they can’t find a suitable site to base their current fleet. Page 9 The Mounties said in a news release that more than $4 million so far in extra po- they, the Montreal police and the Canada Bor- licing services. Thursday Blaine Higgs says the added cost is un- der Services Agency conducted a second po- December 05, 2013 lice operation last Friday in a case of sexual fortunate, but the government has a respon- exploitation of young Romanian women. sibility to ensure enforcement when there is unlawful activity. An arrest warrant was also issued for an- Dec 05 2013 An anti-shale gas protest near Rexton other operator. One week earlier, three erotic SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. - A public in- turned violent in October when police en- massage parlour operators were arrested as quest into the death of a man in RCMP forced an injunction to halt the blockade of a part of the same investigation. custody has recommended that emer- compound used by SWN Resources to store Those arrested last Friday appeared in gency medical services be on standby exploration equipment. court a day later to face charges including if a suspect appears unstable. Forty people were arrested and six police David Gruno, who was 54, died in a Re- keeping a common bawdy house, aiding or vehicles burned. gina hospital a day after he collapsed at the Public Safety Minister Bruce Northrup is abetting a person to engage in or carry on city RCMP detachment in Swift Current in prostitution, and living wholly or in part on defending the police action, saying officers July 2010. discovered weapons during the protest and the avails of prostitution. He had been arrested by officers after an- their response was appropriate. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre recently other man was severely beaten near Herbert, SWN Resources has since been granted served notice that illegal massage parlours - about 50 kilometres east of Swift Current. another injunction that provides a buffer zone havens for prostitution and human-trafficking The six-person inquest jury suggested around its equipment in an effort to complete - will be the target of a police crackdown and that police should call en route for EMS its seismic testing. possible legislation that will include hefty fines. backup if a suspect appears to be in medical distress. Dec 05 2013 The RCMP has pointed out in the past The jury also called for police to keep a OTTAWA - The federal government has that such parlours are a gateway for moving better tab on medication that comes in with a human-trafficking victims into prostitution. once again postponed rules on serial suspect and for cameras to be recording at all numbers for guns until 2015. The Mounties estimate there are nearly 350 times in common areas. The decision was taken by decree in late illicit massage parlours in Montreal and many The inquest concluded that Gruno com- November and posted on the Privy Council’s more in its suburbs. mitted suicide by overdosing on insulin and website on Wednesday. At his Montreal news conference, Blaney an anti-depressant. The rules would help keep Canada in (CKSW, The Canadian Press) also released the 2012-2013 annual report on compliance with international conventions progress of a national action plan to combat on arms smuggling. Dec 05 2013 human-trafficking. Some gun enthusiasts have objected to BARRIE - Ontario’s ombudsman will have The plan involves 18 federal departments. the regulations because they said they would to look elsewhere for information about It includes a partnership with the Nation- increase costs for manufacturers, who would use of force by Barrie Police officers. pass the increase on to gun buyers. al Association of Friendship Centres, which The city’s police services board received The government noted in October 2012 is aimed at aboriginal populations. a request last month to participate in Om- that the repeal of the long-gun registry has There’s also been an increase in informa- budsman André Marin’s investigation into created a gap in Canada’s international obli- tion that specifically targets foreign nationals police officers’ use of force. gations with regard to two protocols on arms and temporary foreign workers who may be Municipal participation in the study is smuggling. vulnerable to human-trafficking. voluntary. The government posting of the measures Instead of sending the data, the board has in the Canada Gazette said that ensuring most directed Marin to obtain the information from firearms in Canada had unique serial num- the province’s Community Safety and Cor- bers would meet some of the specifications of rectional Services Ministry. those international protocols. “I wouldn’t say we’ve declined to par- ISSN 1704-3913 The government has delayed the serial Copyright 2013 ticipate in (the study),” Barrie Police Chief numbers measure at least four times. Blue Line Magazine Inc. & The Canadian Press Kimberley Greenwood said. “There is a pro- Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from cess we’re required to follow and we report Dec 05 2013 Access Copyright to the ministry. They know where to find the Phone 1-800-893-5777 [email protected] REGINA - Saskatchewan RCMP say information.” an investigation into allegations of Published weekly by Blue Line Magazine, Inc. as an executive news The use of force investigation began ear- briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement personnel. inappropriate workplace behaviour lier this summer in the wake of the July death by members of a drug squad found Most information supplied in this publication is from news- of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim in Toronto. He wire services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not ac- nothing that would warrant criminal cept responsibility for the accuracy of articles as supplied. was shot nine times and then tasered after charges. brandishing a knife on a TTC streetcar. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, The allegations involved a unit made up stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by Last month, Marin chose two former police of both RCMP and Regina city police officers. any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, with- chiefs to act as special advisors in the probe. The RCMP asked the Regina police to out the prior permission of the publishers. One Year Subscriptions (Barrie Advance) are $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four conduct the investigation, and on Thursday (4) copies of this publication for distribution within their organization. the Mounties said Regina police advised Dec 05 2013 Group Publisher: Morley S. Lymburner them there was “insufficient’’ evidence to lay PUBLISHER: Kathryn M. Lymburner - [email protected] FREDERICTON - New Brunswick’s fi- NEWS EDITOR: Mark Reesor - [email protected] criminal charges. Subscriptions: Blue Line Store at www.BlueLine.ca nance minister says the ongoing pro- Mounties have said they won’t disclose ADVERTISING: 1-888-640-3048 tests against shale gas exploration 12A-4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Markham ON L3R 1N1 what the allegations were. Phone: 905 640-3048 eMail: [email protected] near Rexton have cost the government RCMP conducted its own investigation 2 3 and says it also found no evidence of wrong- shot a man on southern Vancouver Island in doing by any serving members of the RCMP. friday September 2009. Wood also said circumstances separated December 06, 2013 Dec 05 2013 the officer’s case from a general aggravated OTTAWA - RCMP Commissioner Bob assault case, and a severe sentence would Paulson says allowing police to take have cost Pompeo his job. Dec 06 2013 DNA from people on arrest instead The Crown asked for an 18-month sen- of after conviction would help solve DUNCAN, B.C. - Crown prosecutors tence, and Neil MacKenzie of the BC Crimi- more crimes. in British Columbia are reviewing a nal Justice Branch says prosecutors will It’s an idea Justice Minister Peter MacK- judge’s decision to sentence a Mount- review the ruling, although they respect the ay has said the federal government is actively ie to two years probation and 240 judge’s decision. examining. hours of community service for shoot- Premier Alison Redford and Cal- ing a man. Dec 06 2013 While sentencing Constable David Pom- gary police Chief Rick Hanson support the CAMROSE, Alta. - A judge has ruled peo for aggravated assault, provincial court concept too. there is enough evidence to send a Judge Josiah Wood called him a responsible Speaking on CBC-Radio, Paulson said man to trial on charges of attempting Mountie who showed poor judgment when he he’s in favour of taking samples from people to kill two Mounties in rural Alberta. when they’re arrested. “The Identification of Criminals Act has been very well tested and has endured for fin- gerprints and so on. And I think that the more DNA we can get, the better we’re going to be,” Paulson said. Canada’s DNA databank contains the blood, saliva and hair of roughly 266,000 people who have been convicted of a crime. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this year that police may swab people on arrest. The RCMP runs the national DNA da- tabase. Paulson conceded it might be tough to process, manage and store so many new samples. “It’ll be an administrative, logistical chal- lenge, but I think we’d be up to it,” he said. (CBC News)

Dec 05 2013 NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. – A 911 call for booze and smokes has led to weapon charges against a North Bat- tleford, Sask. man. The man first called the emergency line ear- ly Thursday morning, asking Mounties to bring him smokes and a pop. He then called a second time, this time ask- ing for officers to bring him a mickey of vodka. Police responded to the residence when he stated he had a gun and made threats to harm himself and others. The 41-year-old man refused to leave the home when ordered to by police and fell asleep when he found out the officers had not brought him smokes or booze. Mounties then entered the house and ar- rested the man and seized a .22 calibre rifle and ammunition. He is facing charges of careless used of a firearm, unsafe storage of a firearm, unauthor- ized possession of a firearm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Police say due to his high level of intoxica- tion, he will not appear in court until Friday. (Global News)

4 Sawyer Robison was arrested following a Chief’s Muslim Community Liaison Com- standoff on his family’s farm near Killam in mittee, says: “Regardless of race, culture, February 2012. religion, or sexual orientation, it is important saturday The two officers were searching the prop- that anyone who has a calling to serve and december 07, 2013 erty when they were shot. protect Edmontonians, and passes the rigor- Constables Sheldon Shah and Sid Gaud- ous recruitment and police training standards, ette underwent surgery, survived and later feel welcome and included in the EPS.” Dec 07 2013 went back to work. Police say the traditional hijab is worn by QUEBEC CITY - Officers from the Robison was also charged with the sec- some Muslim women as an outward expres- Sûreté du Québec are investigating af- ond-degree murder of his uncle, who was sion of religious and cultural identity - it cov- ter a man died early Saturday during a found dead in the home following the standoff. ers the head and neck, but not the face. The police intervention in Quebec City. The Crown dropped that charge after force does not currently have any members or Police in the provincial capital were receiving new evidence. applicants requesting to wear the hijab. responding to calls of a man in distress (CFCW, The Canadian Press) As there were no police-issued hijabs around 7 a.m. Sunday in an apartment readily available, the EPS Equity, Diversity building in the Charlesbourg sector. At Dec 06 2013 and Human Rights Unit, and the EPS Tactics some point after police arrived, the man EDMONTON - An Appeal Court has Training Unit developed a prototype with the fell out of a window from the building’s sent the case of a fired central Alberta assistance of a hijab tailor. After rigorous test- seventh floor. police officer back to the province’s ing, the force determined that the headscarf The victim was then taken to a hospital, Law Enforcement Review Board for did not pose any risk to the officer wearing it, where he was declared dead on arrival. another look. or reduce officer effectiveness, nor interfere “We’re not eliminating the hypothesis The Camrose Police Service dismissed with police duties or public interactions. that he voluntarily jumped from the window, Const. Jeffrey MacDonald in July 2012 af- The hijab prototype met the requirements of but we have to conduct an investigation,” said ter he pleaded guilty to misconduct for lying Occupational Health and Safety, and the profes- Sgt. Claude Denis of the SQ. “The victim’s about attending a training course. sional standards of EPS Dress and Deportment. body is being shipped to Montreal for an au- MacDonald challenged his firing and the A statement from the EPS states that the topsy. That should give us a better idea of the review board overturned the dismissal, noting force “continues to change with the times, as circumstances surrounding his death.” that he was being treated for depression when have a number of police, justice and military (Montreal Gazette) the offence occurred. organizations in western nations that have al- The Camrose Police Service appealed the ready modified their uniforms to accommodate Dec 07 2013 board’s decision. the hijab.” TORONTO - A drug suspect drove off The Alberta Court of Appeal has now (Edmonton Sun) with an undercover cop in his car and thrown out the board’s ruling that overturned then slammed into Toronto Police ve- MacDonald’s dismissal. Dec 06 2013 hicles trying to stop him. The Appeal Court says the board must ALLISTON - The funeral for York Re- Drug cops were working a sting Tuesday consider whether someone who has admitted gional Police Const. Michael Pegg night that began with a plainclothes officer to deceit, and who has a record of disciplin- was held this morning at the Alliston buying drugs from a man inside his vehicle. ary convictions, can function effectively as a Pentecostal Church. Once the purchase was completed, an- police officer. other officer approached the driver and tried to open his door. The motorist sped off with Dec 06 2013 the first officer still in his car. WINNIPEG - A retired Mountie has During an ensuing chase, the suspect been charged with sexually abusing rammed several police vehicles before his a girl more than 30 years ago while car veered out of control, mounted a curb and posted in Manitoba. slammed into a sign post. The man, who is 76, was arrested at his The suspect fled on foot but was captured home in Nova Scotia earlier this week. a short time later, said police. He is being transported to Manitoba to Clarinton Kong, 32, of Toronto, is face charges of gross indecency and indecent charged with escaping lawful custody, as- assault. saulting police with a weapon, forcible con- RCMP say they received a complaint In addition to his family, friends and finement, assault, failing to stop for police, from a woman, a relative of the accused, al- neighbours, the service was attended by many failing to stop after an accident, trafficking in leging the man abused her between 1976 and of his colleagues, along cocaine, possession of marijuana and posses- 1981. with officers from the sions of the proceeds of crime. She was between 9 and 14 years old at and the OPP. (Toronto Sun) the time. The 36-year-old Alliston resident died in RCMP say the man retired from the force hospital last week. His former supervising Sunday more than 20 years ago. officer said he died of pneumonia, however december 08, 2013 the results from the autopsy haven’t been Dec 06 2013 released.

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Police Donations in memory of Pegg can be Dec 08 2013 Service has now approved the option made to the Southlake Regional Health Cen- EDMONTON - Alberta will be running for female officers of Muslim faith to tre Foundation, Cardiac Care or the Canadian more classes for aspiring provincial wear a police-issued hijab headscarf Diabetes Association. sheriffs next year in an effort to keep while in uniform. (Alliston Herald) up with the demands for officers. EPS Supt. Kevin Galvin, representing the

5 “We normally do three sheriff classes He told investigators he wanted police to According to Buis, the man was appre- a year, for 2014 we are going to do five of shoot him. hended after he tried to run from the scene after them,” said Josh Stewart, a spokesperson for The man was struck by three shots and colliding with a hydro pole while in the truck. the Solicitor General. was released from hospital the day after the Despite the loss six fully loaded police Stewart said the province has seen pretty shooting. cruisers, Buis said day-to-day operations will high turnover as officers leave the service, not be impacted. which means they are running short. Dec 09 2013 The suspect was taken into custody and “One of the biggest challenges we have is BRAMPTON, Ont. - A Toronto police charged with mischief and theft over $5,000. we almost do too good a job with the sheriffs officer convicted of assaulting a pro- Burnaby RCMP are also trying to de- and we find we are losing some to the EPS, tester during the G20 summit has termine exactly what happened at Burnaby the CPS and the RCMP,” he said. been sentenced to 45 days in prison. General early Sunday. Edmonton police had hoped to contract Const. Babak Andalib-Goortani was A burst pipe flooded the emergency ward, out prisoner transfers from their stations to convicted in September of assault with a forcing hospital staff to transfer patients to the new Edmonton Remand Centre. weapon for using excessive force during the other parts of the facility. The police service estimates that it would arrest of a protester on June 26, 2010. Buis said the suspect was handcuffed save them $170,000 a year to have sheriffs The Crown had called for a “short, sharp when police took him from the truck crash, do the transfer work instead of police officers. sentence of imprisonment’’ to send a mes- but when medical staff at Burnaby General Stewart said the province would like to help, sage that those who abuse their positions of went to check him, the cuffs were off. which is part of why they are trying to get public trust and authority “will be dealt with “It was a split second and he was able to more sheriffs trained. severely.’’ reach up and pull down the sprinkler system,” “We don’t have a surplus of sheriffs that Andalib-Goortani’s lawyer, Harry Black, said Buis. He said the suspect was taken to we can be contracting out right now,” said had asked for the officer to receive an abso- Burnaby General to have a mental evaluation. Stewart. lute discharge. The emergency ward at BGH is open but EPS chief Rod Knecht said he hopes the Black said his client had suffered enough hospital officials are asking people to use other province can get the sheriffs in place soon, already, adding he has post-traumatic stress hospitals if possible, until the problem is re- because beyond just the financial hit having disorder, his psychological state is fragile and solved. A hospital official said Sunday night police officers doing prisoner transfers is a his marriage has fallen apart. the damage figure has yet to be determined. bad use of resources. More than 1,000 people were detained The suspect in the cruiser crunch-up is “You have a fully trained police officer, by police during the G20 protests - most of well known to police for charges involving that individual has had upwards of a year of them were released without charge within property, drugs and failure to comply. training,” he said. “I think the taxpayer would 24 hours. The man is also being investigated for be better served if those people were out on Andalib-Goortani was one of two offi- damage to a sprinkler that caused a flood at the street.” cers to face criminal charges stemming from the Fraser Health treatment facility in Surrey. (Metro Edmonton) the arrests, but earlier this year Const. Glenn (The Province) Weddell was acquitted. Dec 09 2013 monday Dec 09 2013 The federal government is looking to december 09, 2013 SURREY - It looked like a scene right outsource a study on police use of out of the Dukes of Hazzard. force, collecting data that could be And now a 38-year old Surrey man is in used to better train front-line officers. Dec 09 2013 custody following a one-man rampage that Public Safety Canada’s study, which is HALIFAX - No charges will be laid destroyed six police cruisers and flooded the set for completion by April, coincides with against a of- emergency room of Burnaby General Hospital. numerous police forces now considering the ficer who shot a man three times af- The man is being held by RCMP pending expanded use of Tasers for front-line officers. ter an investigation by a Nova Scotia a psychiatric evaluation, The study will look at collecting data agency that looks at all serious inci- The vehicle mayhem began at a mall ear- from front-line officers and trainers after the dents involving police. ly Sunday morning. need for an “evidence-based training curricu- The Serious Incident Response Team The suspect is believed to have driven a lum” was identified. The safety department says there are no grounds for charges because stolen Jeep from Surrey to the mall, where he said in their request that research around po- it was reasonable for the officer to conclude then had an initial collision, hitting a police lice use of force has “frequently been driven” his life was in danger when he shot a 35-year- cruiser parked near the detachment’s commu- by high-profile incidents and does not tackle old man who pulled a knife and threatened nity policing office. a broader approach. to stab officers who had pursued him on the The man then got out of the Jeep and Several questions surrounding police tac- evening of June 27. managed to start up a five-tonne truck that tics, which have been debated for years by Police were called to the man’s home was in the parking lot. police, doctors, academics and the public, are where he first made the threat, then ran away From there he ran into and over the six outlined in the request for proposal — ques- before he was found on the sports field of police vehicles and a van owned by the City tions like, “Does erratic behaviour and mental Prince Arthur School. of Burnaby. instability relate to the degree of force used?” Two uniformed officers chased him on “It is almost like right out of a movie,” The study would also look at individual foot for about 100 metres when the man said Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Major John circumstances — including officer fitness, stopped, threatened an officer with a knife Buis as he looked over the six smashed how many hours they had been working and and wouldn’t drop the weapon. RCMP cars and the Burnaby van. their experience — in determining how use The police watchdog says the man told “This is a very unique incident,” he added. of force is used. investigators he had been using crack cocaine The man is alleged to have rammed the Public Safety spokesperson Josée Picard for four days and heard his dead father’s stolen truck into the police cruisers at 1:20 said that the study is not connected to any voice telling him he should kill himself. a.m. Sunday. specific event and is part of the department’s 6 research plans. Toronto police Chief Bill Blair described around your house, well here’s DIY tips on not The request came as a result of the work- him as “a very fine young man’’ who was to get robbed.” ing group on use of force that first came to- generous and compassionate. According to a July Semiocast social me- gether in 2007 to discuss Tasers and has since He also praised the family’s decision to dia report, Pinterest has 70 million users, 79 expanded its role to data collection. donate the officer’s organs, with a recipient per cent of those in the U.S., with just under The study would eventually be shared for his “big heart’’ found in Boston, and re- four million of those from Canada. A Mash- with police to “support future data collection cipients for his kidneys found in Toronto. able.com article states that 68.2 per cent of and analysis, in order to support future policy “The tragedy of John’s passing has meant Pinterest users are female. development,” Picard said. new hope for several families and saved sev- Calgary police are also looking at turning There is already an Ontario use-of-force eral lives,’’ Blair said. to Pinterest and photo-sharing website Flickr model used in training officers that shows “I would hope that we would all be in- for 2014. how escalation can occur from soft tactics, spired by the Zivcic family’s example.’’ (Metro Edmonton) such as verbal communication, to lethal Onley praised Zivcic as a brave officer force, such as a gun. It outlines that officers who gave his life in service to the people of Tuesday must constantly reassess a situation. the province, while Wynne called him “one of The federal study would look to develop our best,’’ who served “proudly and selflessly’’ december 10, 2013 a scale of severity for all use-of-force options as he took on the job of protecting the public. and the “threat, display and application” of “He was the kind of person who went out Dec 10 2013 those tools — something that would go fur- of his way to help people,’’ Wynne said. ther than Ontario’s current model. Zivcic, 34, a trained tool-and-dye maker, WATERLOO REGION - In an unprec- (Toronto Star) joined the police force in 2007. edented move, a Waterloo Regional He is survived by his mother, brother, Police officer was fired for smoking Dec 09 2013 sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, who marijuana. TORONTO - Thousands of police offi- were all in attendance at the service. Jeremy Borda, 33, was slammed with cers, dignitaries and others turned out “I’ve known him since he was born and the stiffest penalty — termination — at a to honour a fellow cop described as it’s a very sad day for all of us,’’ said Nada Police Act disciplinary hearing Monday by a “fine young man’’ whose heart now Mogus, of Windsor, Ont., who grew up with hearing officer Supt. Paul Pedersen of York continues beating inside someone in the officer’s father. Regional Police. He has seven days to quit Boston. “He was a very nice boy, very friendly. or face dismissal. It’s very sad.’’ “He saw himself above the law,” Pedersen Zivcic was thrown from his cruiser fol- said in his judgment at police headquarters. lowing the Nov. 30 crash that occurred as he Pedersen said Borda took the oath of an responded to a traffic call. officer, but “he can turn it on or off when he Blair said the exact circumstances were sees fit.” still under investigation but said he was open “His pattern of behaviour gave me great to anything that would make officers safer, in- concern,” he said. “He has lost the confidence cluding mandating their use of seatbelts. of the public and his employer. He can no The woman driving the other vehicle in- longer be a useful member of the Waterloo volved in the collision was slightly hurt. Regional Police Service.” Toronto’s landmark CN Tower was to be Last June, Borda pleaded guilty to 11 Po- A long procession of uniformed officers lit in blue Monday night in Zivcic’s honour lice Act charges of discreditable conduct and filed into a trade centre hall followed by and as a tribute to the city’s police officers. one of insubordination. the flag-draped casket bearing Const. John He was also charged criminally with traf- Zivcic, who died Dec. 2, two days after he Dec 09 2013 ficking marijuana after he bought pot and was hurt in an on-duty crash. EDMONTON - Edmonton police are gave it to another officer. He pleaded guilty “We give thanks to a man I am so proud hoping if they ‘pin it,’ citizens can re- to possession and was given a conditional to call my brother, the unique, the intense, cover their stolen items. discharge, a fine and community service with the sensitive, the extraordinary irreplaceable As stated in a tweet posted by Edmonton no conviction registered. (The Record) John,’’ his older sibling Tom Zivcic said in an Police on Monday, the local police force will emotional eulogy. use Pinterest to “return items to their rightful Dec 10 2013 “It is comforting to our family that owners.” somewhere out there John’s heart will con- Pinterest users “pin” and share pho- WINNIPEG - Winnipeg is the first Ca- tinue to beat.’’ tos they like, a social media site which has nadian city to join a United Nations As Lt.-Gov. David Onley, Premier Kath- worked well for other North American police campaign aimed at reducing violence leen Wynne, Mayor Rob Ford and others forces. against women. looked on, Zivcic was remembered as a popu- The Kansas City Missouri Police De- The UN Global Safe Cities Initiative is lar, caring young man who loved helping and partment—the first police detachment in responsible for including women’s safety au- protecting others. the United States to turn to the social media dits in urban planning for some cities and for Tom Zivcic noted that when his brother site— uses the website to spread police in- banning sexual harassment in public places. was a boy, he wanted to be a garbage collec- formation with Pinterest’s primarily female In Winnipeg, police plan to team up with tor, and followed the garbage truck around on demographic. community groups to identify which parts of his bicycle. “We thought it would make [officers] a the city need immediate attention. “Unfortunately with his life being cut lot more accessible and friendly,” said Sarah Kerri Irvin-Ross, Manitoba’s minister short, he was not able to fulfil his childhood Boyd, public relations specialist with the Kan- responsible for the status of women, says the dream of becoming a garbage man,’’ Zivcic sas City Missouri Police Department. “People initiative will look at ways to reduce sexual joked even as he fought back tears. use Pinterest for DIY [Do It Yourself] tips violence and make the streets safer for women.

7 Aboriginal organizations are hoping the Dec 10 2013 The plates will be compared with initiative will come up with ways to specifi- SYDNEY, N.S. - There appears to be a database of about eight million li- cally address violence against native women. no movement in the positions of the cence plates to detect those registered Winnipeg joins more than 15 cities around union representing members of the to suspended drivers, associated with the world, including New Delhi and Cairo. Cape Breton Regional Police Service stolen vehicles, reported stolen or and senior police officials in an ongo- missing, or that haven’t been issued. Dec 10 2013 ing labour impasse. When the system produces a “hit’’ FREDERICTON - New Brunswick’s Joan Jessome, president of the Nova on a suspended driver and the driver is Public Safety Department says a Scotia Government and General Employees found to have a suspended licence, of- Mountie who publicly complained Union, says her members deserve the same ficers will immediately impound the ve- about not being able to smoke me- protection when facing criminal charges that hicle for a minimum of 45 days. dicinal marijuana while on the job was is afforded to virtually all other police officers Police will retain records for scanned subdued with a stun gun and charged in Canada. plates that match the hot list for eviden- with assaulting another RCMP officer. The current practice sees the officer paid for tiary purposes, while data for plates that Alycia Morehouse, a spokeswoman for only the first 60 days of a suspension, with an do not generate a hit will be automati- the department, says Cpl. Ron Francis is un- extension at the discretion of the . cally deleted every 10 minutes. dergoing a psychiatric assessment at the Res- About 48 officers who serve on special Eight of the 27 new vehicles are be- tigouche Hospital Centre in northern New units have told Chief Peter McIsaac they will ing deployed in the Greater Toronto Area Brunswick after he was arrested last week. not participate as members of the emergency and the remaining vehicles will move be- An RCMP spokeswoman says the response team, the public safety unit, the train- tween detachments across the province Mounties were concerned about Francis’s ing unit, and the dive team and marine unit. as needed, with the rollout to be com- well-being when they found him Friday on a The decision came after Const. Ron pleted next month. street in downtown Fredericton. Williams was convicted on charges of Currently, the OPP uses a data file Morehouse says the RCMP called Fred- breach of trust and obstruction of justice. that contains approximately six million ericton police for help because the city is not Mayor Cecil Clarke has ordered McIsaac licence plates in poor standing from the to request RCMP emergency assistance as a within RCMP jurisdiction. Ministry of Transportation and the Cana- precaution. She says Francis was hit with a stun gun dian Police Information Centre. The sides are due to meet Feb. 3-5 at at one point, but she couldn’t offer further de- The new file of suspended drivers is the bargaining table to negotiate a collective tails, saying the matter is before the courts. anticipated to add an additional two mil- agreement. Francis attracted national attention last McIsaac and Clarke responded to the lion plates to the database. month when he spoke out against the RC- NSGEU’s statements Tuesday, stressing that MP’s policy that says its officers can’t smoke Dec 11 2013 while discussion over some language had tak- medicinal marijuana while in uniform. en place, the sides were never close to reach- VANCOUVER - A B.C. provincial He returned his red serge on orders from ing an agreement on the issue, noting CBRM court judge has handed a former his superiors but accused the RCMP and the contract negotiations are done by the human RCMP sergeant a conditional dis- federal government of not doing enough to resources department. charge after he tearfully admitted support officers with post-traumatic stress McIsaac said that pay suspension at the to stealing a $70 sweatshirt. disorder. discretion of the chief is under the province’s Derek Brassington, who was once a The RCMP said its officers who are pre- Police Act. lead officer for the Integrated Homicide scribed medicinal marijuana should not be Clarke said the NSGEU position is Investigation Team, wept as he pleaded in red serge or regular uniform while taking unacceptable. guilty to theft and then apologized in their medication as it would not portray the (Cape Breton Post) court on Wednesday. right message to the public. When he took the clothing from a The lawyer for Francis could not be Burnaby, B.C., store, he said he’d been reached for comment. wednesday suspended from the force for another December 11, 2013 matter and he told the court his marriage Dec 10 2013 has fallen apart. MONTREAL, Que. - The City of Mon- Dec 11 2013 Brassington said he’s been diagnosed treal’s anti-corruption squad is be- ORILLIA, Ont. - Provincial police with post traumatic stress disorder but ing integrated into the much larger say they’re expanding a program none of that is an excuse for his criminal provincial unit. that was aimed at recovering sto- behaviour, because police officers should The 20 members will become part of the len vehicles and licence plates to be held to a higher standard. provincial squad, which goes by the name help take suspended drivers off In June 2011, charges were laid UPAC. Ontario’s roads. against Brassington and three other The announcement was made in Montre- Police say about 250,000 licence officers in connection to a murder al today by Mayor Denis Coderre and Quebec suspensions are issued each year in the investigation. Public Security Minister Stephane Bergeron. province and suspended drivers are in- Brassington faces seven charges, in- Coderre says the merger will allow for volved in an estimated 2.3 per cent of cluding breach of trust, obstruction of better results and less overlap. fatal motor vehicle collisions. justice and defrauding the RCMP in the The Montreal unit was created last Janu- form of wages or overtime pay. OPP are adding 27 additional vehicles (CKNW) ary by then-mayor Michael Applebaum to to the current fleet of four equipped with root out collusion at city hall. the Automatic Licence Plate Recognition Dec 11 2013 Applebaum later stepped down after be- that is capable of scanning approximately ing arrested on corruption-related charges. 3,600 plates per hour. RCMP will soon be using bait sleds across the province in an effort to 8 combat snowmobile theft. “If we’re not able to find an alterna- But Coun. Dave Loken, a member The modified snowmobiles will al- tive, we’re looking at a different kind of the Edmonton Police Commission, low police to track stolen property and of aircraft that will give us capacity in criticized the lack of communication he’s arrest those responsible. terms of weight and time and distance,” had on the issue, saying he hadn’t heard Police say some of the stolen snow- he said. the northwest campus wouldn’t work for mobiles go to chop shops and are sold off “We will stay (at Villeneuve) as long helicopters. for parts. as we need to, until we come up with an “It’s great that we have a deputy chief They are warning people that if a deal alternative or a different kind of aircraft.” walking around making statements like is “too good to be true,” it probably is, A twin-engined helicopter might be that when none of this information has and they could find themselves in pos- required if space is tight at a new facility come to us.” session of stolen property. because it needs less room to land and Buying one or two higher-priced new (Global News) take off, Korol said. helicopters is “out of the question,” Lo- While the current choppers could ken said. Dec 11 2013 carry less fuel, making them lighter so “At this point, I think there are oth- EDMONTON - An Edmonton real- they can also operate in smaller area, this er priorities. We have two helicopters. tor is now chairman of the Alberta would reduce their flying time, he said. What we have to do is settle the question Law Enforcement Response Team The service is still talking to the army of where our helicopters are flying in and (ALERT) board of directors. about moving to the runway at CFB Ed- out of.” monton in Namao, as well as private Loken hopes an arrangement can be landowners in the city, he said. reached with the army, adding he doesn’t “Preferably, we would like to find know any appropriate sites inside city land and operate these (current) type of boundaries. helicopters. They’re a little more fuel ef- Mayor Don Iveson said army staff ficient; obviously, they’re less expensive are apparently doing what they can to ac- and they have worked well for us in the commodate the police. past.” “I recognize the police service would Although there has been discussion like to upgrade their helicopters, but at of moving to the long-planned north- this point we have a fleet. We have to find west police campus, Korol said this lo- an economical and convenient place for Shami Sandhu, who is also chairman cation isn’t safe because of the danger them to park … We haven’t exhausted all of the Edmonton Police Commission, of hitting birds flying around the nearby of our options.” replaces Medicine Hat Police Commis- stormwater pond. (Edmonton Journal) sion’s Ryan Jackson, whose tenure on the board is due to expire at the end of the year. ALERT is funded by the province to bring together Alberta law enforcement resources to tackle crime. Since its in- ception in 2006, ALERT has taken nearly $500 million worth of drugs off Alberta streets, seized nearly 500 firearms, and has arrested nearly 6,000 offenders. Sandhu has been a member of the ALERT board since January 2013. He was appointed chairman of the police commis- sion in 2013, and appointed by Edmonton City Council in 2010.

Dec 11 2013 EDMONTON - Edmonton police are looking at buying one or two $8-million twin-engined helicop- ters if they can’t find a suitable site to base their current fleet. The two existing choppers, which cost about $2 million each, shifted to Villeneuve Airport from the former City Centre Airport about a month ago, dep- uty chief David Korol said Wednesday. But the new location has added to their operating time and expense, and po- lice have been unsuccessful so far in their search for a place around Edmonton to land and refuel, he said.

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