Police Body Camera Study Released

A CHRONICLE OF NEWS FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 – Vol. 21 No. 39 Police body camera study released

Sep 15 2016 Officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service have reached a tentative agreement with their employer. Page 5

Sep 16 2016 WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg police officer has been arrested on dozens of criminal charges following a year-long internal investigation.

Page 6 Sep 18 2016 TORONTO - Forcing journalists to act as investigators for police would undermine the critical role news outlets play in a free society, a coalition of media organizations argue in documents filed with Ontario’s top court. Page 7

Sep 21 2016 EDMONTON - Police have charged a self-proclaimed Free- Sep 15 2016 man on the Land with carrying The vast majority of that money would out a “paper terrorism’’ campaign TORONTO - Toronto police are asking go to storing the videos, according to Insp. against a peace officer who is- for approval to outfit all frontline offic- Michael Barsky, the operational lead on the sued him a speeding ticket. ers with body-worn cameras, despite pilot project. reporting major issues after analyzing Both Mayor John Tory and Chief Mark Page 11 its year-long pilot project. Saunders said one of the main concerns was The request to the police board comes de- the amount of time officers spent dealing Sep 21 2016 spite the steep cost of the proposed program, with the videos after their shifts an average VANCOUVER - British Colum- which the report estimates would reach $85 of 39 minutes and up to two hours per shift bia is bombarding the province million over 10 years. for some officers. with thousands of overdose-reversing naloxone kits as part of its all-out assault against a drug crisis that has already killed 488 people this year. Page 11 “This is clearly a major, major devotion stored in their country. However, Section 230 was found uncon- of police resources to just managing video Despite the negatives, Barsky said it pro- stitutional in 1990 by the Supreme Court. information and unless you spent a lot more vides police with the best possible evidence The revised definition of murder states the money on a lot more police officers this is that can be used in court. killing must be intended to be murder, which going to take away from policing in the com- Surveys conducted by Toronto police the Crown was unable to prove against Vader. munity,’’ Tory said. showed 95 per cent of the public and 85 per “The Supreme Court’s been very clear,’’ “So these are the kinds of things we’re cent of officers support the use of the cameras. said Sankoff. going to have to take a very careful look at, Tory said he was disappointed the board “You must have an intention to cause but I am in favour of having cameras subject didn’t receive the report until an hour before death to be guilty of murder. There’s no find- to resolving a lot of these issues.’’ the meeting, so it will be discussed more ing that Vader ever intended to cause death.’’ Some of those issues include serious bat- completely at a meeting next month. Thomas allowed a camera into his court tery problems that only allowed use of the Forces across the country are grappling for the verdict, a first for Alberta. Livestream cameras for three-to-five hours per shift and with body cameras. broadcasts of his judgment allowed Sankoff the majority of officers work 10-hour shifts, What happens in Toronto could deter- and other legal experts to monitor the argu- Barsky said. mine the situation in the rest of the province. ment in real time. There was also hope that the body cam- Ontario’s police forces — save for a Although Section 230 has not been in eras would have a positive effect on police small force in Amherstburg that has already force for 26 years, it’s never been repealed officers by decreasing use-of-force - inci outfitted all 16 of its frontline officers with and still remains in the Criminal Code. dents, but there was little effect, according cameras — are watching Toronto following Sankoff suggests Thomas simply erred. to the report. a directive from the Ontario Association of “It’s very easy to get things wrong, be- But it noted officers surveyed said they Chiefs of Police, which is supported by the cause, you know, you forget. (The section) is felt they lost their use of discretion, which Ministry of the Attorney General, Barsky sitting there.’’ led to an increase in arrests and a decrease previously told The Canadian Press. Sankoff said the error leaves the verdict in warnings. In Calgary, police had begun rolling out wide open to appeal — something Vader’s Saunders said technology has changed so cameras to its front line officers after -pur lawyer has already said he intends to do. quickly since they began looking into body chasing 1,100 cameras from a Utah-based “If they bring an appeal on this, I think cameras two years ago that many of these company. But they had to test 150 cameras it’s slam dunk.’’ problems could be resolved. after discovering a problem with the built-in Vader could still be convicted of man- “I think at the end of the day when we microphone. slaughter. take the time necessary to get the right prod- In Vancouver, police have opted out of The situation exemplifies a problem legal uct that will give us the best results, I think the body camera game for now, citing the scholars often identify to politicians, Sankoff it’s going to be a win not just for law enforce- high cost of storage as a significant barrier. said. Old, antiquated laws are rarely repealed ment but the public as well,’’ Saunders said. Montreal police are currently undergoing and sit there on the books. Police forces have two general options their own pilot project for two dozen officers “There are anywhere from 30 to 50 for data storage: a cloud-based server hosted to examine its potential use. crimes that, if you open up the Criminal by a third party, usually off site, or local stor- Code, are still there. Parliament never gets age essentially giant hard drives that police around to repealing those, even though we forces own and operate themselves. ask them to.’’ Toronto police used their own hard THURSDAY Sankoff said Section 230 has been drives, which is the single biggest cost in the SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 wrongly used in trials before, but only in in- program, Barsky said. structions to a jury. He said he’s not aware of The force, he said, opted for in-house it being used before in a judgment. Sep 15 2016 storage because it wanted complete control What happens next is unclear. over data for security reasons. There were EDMONTON - At least one legal schol- The Alberta Court of Appeal could sort also concerns that the U.S. Patriot Act allows ar says a judicial oversight may invali- out the matter. Sankoff said there’s also a pro- American authorities to access data that is date the verdict that found an Alberta vision where the Crown and defence lawyers man guilty of second-degree murder. could ask the judge to reconsider his verdict, Travis Vader was convicted Thursday a highly technical legal process that could in the deaths of seniors Lyle and Marie Mc- take months. Cann, a case that has bedevilled police, haunted the victim’s family and fascinated Sep 15 2016 the public since the McCann’s burned-out RV ISSN 1704-3913 CALGARY - Legal experts are urg- Copyright 2016 was found in 2010. ing greater diversity on the bench as Blue Line Magazine Inc. & The Canadian Press But Peter Sankoff, a University of Al- Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from three Alberta judges face scrutiny for Access Copyright berta law professor who specializes in legal remarks they made during sexual as- Phone 1-800-893-5777 [email protected] issues around the criminal trial process, said sault trials. Published weekly by Blue Line Magazine, Inc. as an executive news Thursday that Alberta Queen’s Bench Justice The most high-profile case centres on briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement personnel. Denny Thomas used an invalid section of the Most information supplied in this publication is from newswire Judge Robin Camp, who asked a complain- services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not accept responsibility Criminal Code in his decision. ant why she didn’t keep her knees together for the accuracy of articles as supplied. ``I’m pretty confident that the ruling and referred her as ``the accused’’ during the All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, can’t stand,’’ he said. stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by any 2014 trial, a mistake he repeated at a Canadi- means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without Sankoff points out that Thomas used Sec- an Judicial Council hearing last week before the prior permission of the publishers. One Year Subscriptions are tion 230 of the Criminal Code in his written $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four (4) quickly correcting himself. copies of this publication for distribution within their organization. judgement convicting Vader. Thomas refers University of British Columbia law pro- explicitly to that section in finding Vader fessor Emma Cunliffe said the woman in GROUP PUBLISHER: Morley S. Lymburner guilty of second-degree murder. the Camp case — like many who come into A/PUBLISHER: Tom Rataj.- [email protected] ``When (Thomas) relies on Section 230 contact with the justice system — suffered NEWS EDITOR: Mark Reesor - [email protected] to convict, he can’t do that. Section 230 “compound vulnerabilities’’ that the judge SUBSCRIPTIONS: at www.BlueLine.ca doesn’t exist.’’ ADVERTISING: 1-888-640-3048 should have understood. That section allows for a murder verdict For instance, the 19-year-old woman 12A-4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Markham ON L3R 1N1 if a wrongful death occurs during the com- whom Camp chided is indigenous and was Phone: 905 640-3048 eMail: [email protected] mission of another crime, such as robbery. homeless at the time of her alleged rape. 2 “The judiciary is not very diverse and un- mention this to a friend, no complaint to a but getting out of the mall as fast as they fortunately it became less diverse in the last friend.’’ could,’’ she told radio station CJXX. 10 to 15 years,’’ said Cunliffe. The trial judge also noted that the aunt “We had one person come and tell the Alison Gray, a Bennett Jones lawyer who with whom the girl was living “did not notice store to close up shop because two people was co-counsel on the Women’s Legal Edu- any change in her demeanour.’’ had been shot at the food court.’’ cation and Action Fund intervention in the In the other case, Judge Michael Savaryn Barb Verhaegag had just gone into the Camp inquiry, said it’s important that mar- acquitted a 15-year-old boy who grabbed the mall with her son. ginalized groups are represented in the legal breasts and buttocks of a girl, also 15, in a “We heard what sounded like, and was profession. high school hallway and tried to kiss her. later confirmed by other witnesses, to bea But she said judges should also be edu- “In fairness to the accused, the complain- gunshot in the food court,’’ says Verhaegag. cating themselves on issues outside their own ant tried so hard to laugh it all off that I do “We looked around and all the stores were life experience. not believe she was successful in communi- panicky, closing their doors.’ “I don’t think that we have a bunch of cating her discomfort,’’ Savaryn wrote in his Verhaegag praised RCMP for their quick judges that don’t have empathy or don’t decision. response, saying there were a half-dozen po- have compassion. I just think that they’re In July, the acquittal was overturned by lice vehicles on scene by the time she and her coming from a position where they don’t a higher court judge. The boy was convicted son left the mall. understand necessarily the experience of a and awaits sentencing. (CJXX) sexual assault complainant or they don’t un- In her decision overturning the acquit- derstand the experience of a homeless per- tal, Justice J.E. Topolniski wrote: “Consent Sep 15 2016 son,’’ said Gray, who called Camp’s com- means ‘Yes.’ The word ‘No’ does not mean WASHINGTON - The FBI has imposed ments “out of the norm.’’ ‘Yes.’’ The word ‘No’ coupled with fend- new restrictions on its agents’ ability Kathleen Mahoney, a University of Cal- ing off an attacker with a water bottle does to masquerade as reporters following gary law professor, has long pressed for com- not mean ‘Yes.’ There is nothing ambiguous an uproar over the impersonation of pulsory education on gender, race and other about it.’” an Associated Press journalist, but sensitive topics judges are likely encounter in the agency has stopped short of rul- their courtrooms. Sep 15 2016 ing out the practice as news organiza- “You can’t take for granted that judges VANCOUVER - A man who shot and tions had wanted. are going to be sensitive to context as much seriously wounded a former employer An inspector general report released as they should be,’’ she said. “So often you before confronting police in two sepa- Thursday said the FBI recently instituted rely on myths and stereotypes to help you rate Vancouver shootouts has plead- new policies requiring top-level approval be- understand what another person’s shoes feel ed guilty to three counts of attempted fore agents can pose as journalists, calling the like when you put them on.’’ murder and two firearms charges. changes an “important improvement’’ over Camp has apologized for remarks and his Gerald Battersby appeared in B.C. Su- past practices. But it also said the impersona- legal team argued that he had an “education preme Court on Thursday in connection to tion was permissible under policies in place problem, not a character problem’’ and that the 2014 shootings in the city’s Yaletown at the time and suggested that there may still he has since endeavoured to learn about the area and outside Science World. be undercover operations in which the tactic issue. His lawyers also argued that outdated Battersby was facing six counts of at- attitudes in the judiciary won’t be eliminated tempted murder and four firearms offences by firing Camp to make an example of him. and had earlier pleaded not guilty. Though Camp was a provincial judge Police have said a man who’d been shot when he acquitted the man, he has since been was left fighting for his life outside a coffee appointed to the federal bench, which means shop where two plain-clothes officers ex- he is subject to a Canadian Judicial Council changed gunfire with a suspect, who escaped disciplinary inquiry. on a bike along the city’s seawall. Public hearings wrapped up earlier this One of the officers commandeered a bike week. The five-member panel is to report to and followed and another shootout erupted the council, which will then make a recom- outside Science World, with dozens of offic- mendation to the federal justice minister as to ers surrounding the man, who was hospital- whether Camp is fit to keep his job. ized for serious gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, reviews are happening be- Police credited several Good Samari- hind closed doors into how two other Alberta tans and a retired doctor who’d worked as an provincial judges handled recent sexual as- emergency room physician for helping the sault cases. man shot outside the coffee shop. Ron Hewitt, executive director of the (News1130; The Canadian Press) Provincial Court of Alberta, declined to elaborate on the reviews being done by provincial Sep 15 2016 Chief Judge Terrence Matchett. GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB. - A suspect One case centres on Justice Pat McIl- or suspects are being sought after a hargey’s June 2015 acquittal of a 16-year-old shooting at a shopping mall in Grande boy accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in Prairie, Alta., that may have left two a park. people injured. Last month, in ordering a new trial, a The shooting took place late Thursday Court of Queen’s Bench judge said McIl- afternoon by the east doors going into the hargey allowed “unexplained myths and ste- Prairie Mall’s food court. reotypes to enter his assessment of the com- RCMP aren’t saying much so far, but wit- plainant’s credibility.’’ nesses have described a flurry of activity. McIlhargey wrote in his decision that on Jeannette LaFlamme was in the north end the day of the incident “she did not scream, of the mall waiting for an appointment. she did not run for help. She ran to the Co-op “All of a sudden, there were people and called her friend and told her she could coming in droves on the north end of the not meet her friend. At no point did she ever mall essentially, not running out of the mall

3 could be appropriate to use. Department, also concluded that the 2007 learn the teenager’s identity and that ``I would The AP and the Reporters Committee operation did not violate FBI undercover rather not know who you are as writers are not for Freedom of the Press sued the FBI last policies at the time. allowed to reveal their sources.’’ year after it emerged that the bureau had im- Those policies, which the IG called “less That assurance was an “implied promise personated an AP journalist to send a bogus than clear,’’ did not require agents to seek of confidentiality’’ and created a risk that the news article that was booby-trapped with special approval before impersonating a jour- teenager believed that he was entering a con- surveillance software. The ruse, in 2007, re- nalist and did not prohibit them from doing fidential relationship with the agent, according sulted in the trial and conviction of a teenage so unless there was a “significant risk’’ that a to the IG report. It said investigators did not bomb hoaxer in Washington State. third party would develop a confidential rela- adequately consider whether that communica- A 2014 news article in the Seattle Times, tionship with the undercover FBI employee. tion should have required additional approval. based on records obtained by the Electronic The FBI had not expected to have a The communication continued, and the Frontier Foundation, exposed details about drawn-out or confidential relationship with teenager opened a follow-up email from the the undercover operation. The impersonation the teenage suspect, but once that happened, agent that contained the hidden software. The stirred immediate outrage among the news agents should have considered whether high- computer program helped agents identify his media and First Amendment advocates, and er-level approval was needed, the report said. actual location. the Justice Department’s inspector general It said the suspect at one point wrote the un- “We highlight this — that is, how the opened an investigation into the practice. dercover agent to “leave me alone.’’ The agent plan actually unfolded — not because it In a letter to then-Attorney General Eric responded that he wasn’t actually trying to proves the agents’ advance assessment of Holder, the AP called it “improper and in- consistent with a free press for government personnel to masquerade as The Associated Press or any other news organization.’’ The AP argued such impersonations by law enforcement would intimidate sources who might otherwise speak freely to journalists and erode the AP’s ability to gather news. Paul Colford, AP vice-president and director of media relations, said in a statement Thursday that the news co-operative was “deeply disappointed with the inspector general’s findings, which effectively condone the FBI’s impersonation of an AP journalist in 2007. Such action compromises the ability of a free press to gather the news safely and effectively and raises serious constitutional concerns.’’ “Once again, AP calls on the government to refrain from any activities involving the impersonation of the news media, and we demand to be heard in the development of any policies addressing such conduct,’’ he added. FBI Director James Comey defended the tactic in a 2014 New York Times opinion piece as “proper and appropriate,’’ and said that while it would still be permissible today, it would likely need additional levels of approval. The inspector general looked into whether the tactic was appropriate under policies in place at the time and whether it would require higher levels of approval if conducted today. As the inspector general was finalizing its report this tear on the undercover operation, the FBI tightened its policies to permit agents to pose as journalists only after approval by headquarters leadership, according to Thurs- day’s report. Those restrictions, the inspector general said, represent “an important and appropriate addition’’ to other Justice Depart- ment policies meant to protect journalists’ First Amendment rights. Under an interim policy that took effect in June, agents may impersonate journalists only if it is done as part of an undercover operation and only after authorization from a special committee at headquarters and the FBI’s deputy director, after consultation from the deputy attorney general. The inspector general recommended that the FBI update its general undercover policy guide to incorpo- rate that new directive. But the inspector general, an independent watchdog office within the Justice 4 the plan was wrong, but to demonstrate the sual step to warn the public before the test had fentanyl and now we have carfentanil.’’ plan’s inherent unpredictability and of the results came back because carfentanil is so The overdose kits are part of a new pro- potential need to reassess the necessary ap- dangerous. gram launched last December. Nurses at proval requirements,’’ the report states. “If you are using heroin, fentanyl, carfen- Street Connections pack two doses per kit of (The Associated Press) tanil or any other similar drug, it is important naloxone. you have a naloxone overdose prevention kit “The medication itself is about $7 a Sep 15 2016 with you at all times. Because carfentanil is dose. If you get carfentanil you might need Officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Po- so toxic, you may need several doses of na- two doses to reverse the overdose,’’ Mar- lice Service have reached a tentative loxone to reverse an overdose,’’ the warning shall said. agreement with their employer. stated. As police put out the warning , front The union representing officers, the Pub- Shelley Marshall, a nurse clinician at line staff at Street Connections were still lic Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), said Street Connections, noted that even touching getting the word about the dangers of fen- the deal was reached after two days of meet- carfentanil can be deadly. tanyl, its derivatives and the kits that can ings with a conciliator. Those meetings were “It would kill a police officer if he or she reverse overdoses. scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of put their hands in it, and it’s being absorbed “We need more sites. There’s a couple of this week. through the skin. It’s an occupational hazard pharmacies thinking of getting up and run- Without a deal, the union would have busting labs and taking in dealers,’’ she said. ning and selling naloxone,’’ said Marshall. been in a legal strike or lock-out position as “We thought oxycontin was bad. Then we “We don’t even have provincial funding of Friday morning. “I am very proud of our bargaining team for all their work and to the officers who stood strong and lobbied their provincial and federal political representatives to fund First Nations policing effectively,” said Sharon DeSouza, the union’s Regional Executive Vice President for Ontario. Nishawbe Aski Police serve 35 First Na- tions in the most northern parts of Ontario. It’s funded through the First Nations Policing Program. An auditor generals report in 2014 found the program is not adequately funded and not working as intended. Officers still need to ratify the agreement. The union said ratification meetings will be set up in the coming days. Details of the deal haven’t been made public. One of the major issues included having at least two officers stationed in each NAPS served community. Another issue was upgrades to the tel- ecommunication systems used by officers. (CBC News)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Sep 16 2016 WINNIPEG - Lab tests are being done on samples taken from hundreds of drug doses seized in Winnipeg this week to determine whether a dangerous opioid 100 times more powerful than fentanyl has arrived in the city. Police say officers discovered upwards of 1,500 doses at a west-end hotel on Monday that they suspect is carfentanil — a drug used on elephants. A 37-year-old Winnipeg man is facing several drug-related charges, including trafficking. Police have also issued a bulletin stating that carfentanil can easily cause overdose death or long-term health problems. The bulletin urges drug users to contact Street Connections, the mobile public health service run by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, which gives out free kits with the overdose antidote naloxone. The bulletin notes police took the unu-

5 for our program. What costs a lot is human get into the device and scour it for potential when Milan was part of the street crime unit. resources, training someone on how to take evidence. Apple contested the order, saying The officer is charged with 15 counts of a history. The kits themselves are not that ex- the FBI’s demand set a dangerous precedent possessing a prohibited weapon and with the pensive, about $35 a kit, but nursing hours and could undercut security protections for possession of drugs including cocaine, meth- are expensive and our nurses are extremely its customers. amphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana for the busy.’’ The two sides were headed for a court purposes of trafficking. (Winnipeg Free Press) showdown when Justice Department offi- Smyth refused to elaborate on what ex- cials revealed that a party outside the U.S. actly led to the charges saying the investiga- Sep 16 2016 government brought it a potential solution to tion is still ongoing. TORONTO - A Toronto police officer is unlock the phone. The FBI said a week later The investigation has spawned a “gam- expected to survive after being struck it successfully unlocked the phone using the ut’’ of emotions, Smyth said. by a car on Friday morning. tool. The suit cites media reports as saying “My emotions have run from disbelief Const. Craig Brister says the officer was investigators did not find any links to foreign to anger to disappointment to resolve and on duty and riding his motorcycle in the extremist groups. now here today to actually some relief that downtown core at the time of the collision. The FBI would not say how much the we have brought this member essentially to Brister says a vehicle struck the officer, solution cost or reveal how it worked. It also justice,’’ Smyth said. resulting in undisclosed injuries. refused to share the information with Apple, “We recognize the actions of this one The officer was rushed to hospital where which had expressed concern that circum- member are inexcusable.’’ he was stabilized. venting its security protections could com- Milan has been released on a promise Brister says the officer’s injuries are not promise its products. to appear in court and is on administrative life-threatening. The suit by the media organizations ar- leave while the investigation continues, Police have not released the officer’s gues that there was no legal basis to withhold Smyth said. name or laid any charges, and Brister says the information and challenges the adequacy Once the investigation has wrapped up, the investigation is ongoing. of the FBI’s search for relevant records. It also Smyth said it will be up to the police chief said the public has a right to know whether to determine whether Milan will remain on Sep 16 2016 the vendor has adequate security measures, the force. WASHINGTON - The Associated Press is a proper recipient of government funds and and two other news organizations will act only in the public interest. Sep 16 2016 sued the FBI on Friday to learn who It was the third suit the AP has filed Ottawa police will be equipping of- the government paid and how much against the Obama administration under the ficers with body cameras as part of a it spent to hack into an iPhone in its Freedom of Information Act. pilot project, essentially reversing its investigation into last year’s San Ber- position on the issue, the force con- nardino, California, massacre. Sep 16 2016 firmed on Friday. The lawsuit seeks records about the TORONTO - The Special Investigation In March of this year, the Ottawa Po- FBI’s contract with an unidentified vendor Unit says a Toronto police officer has lice Service said it was no longer looking who provided a tool to unlock the phone be- been charged with sexual assault. into the possibility of outfitting officers with longing to Syed Rizwan Farook, who with The police watchdog agency says the al- body cameras, and would instead focus on his wife killed 14 people at a holiday gather- leged incident involving a 28-year-old wom- other priorities. ing of county workers in December 2015. an occurred in September 2008. Spokesman Const. Marc Soucy said the Gannett Co., which owns USA Today, Director Tony Loparco says the incident force will be reviewing a Toronto police re- and Vice Media LLC joined the complaint was brought to the SIU’s attention in January. port filed Thursday on its own pilot project with the AP, seeking to learn more about the Const. Vincent Bonazza is facing one into body cameras but that there’s no timeline mysterious transaction that cut short a legal count of sexual assault and is to appear in for Ottawa’s pilot yet. dispute in which the government sought to court on Oct. 26. The Toronto police report found that al- force Apple Inc. to unlock the phone. (The Canadian Press) though the technology didn’t meet officers’ “Understanding the amount that the FBI complete needs, body cameras “do provide deemed appropriate to spend on the tool, Sep 16 2016 the unbiased, independent account of police/ as well as the identity and reputation of the WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg police officer community interactions, as expected,” ac- vendor it did business with, is essential for has been arrested on dozens of crimi- cording to a Toronto police statement. the public to provide effective oversight nal charges following a year-long in- Toronto police are now seeking permission of government functions and help guard ternal investigation. to open the bidding process for the contract to against potential improprieties,’’ said the Deputy Chief Danny Smyth said Const. supply body cameras to the entire force. suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Dis- Trent Milan, who is 42, is facing 34 charges Soucy said Ottawa police Chief Charles trict of Columbia under the U.S. Freedom of including theft, drug possession and posses- Bordeleau might discuss the issue during his Information Act. sion of prohibited weapons. verbal report at the Sept. 26 Ottawa Police In rejecting earlier requests to divulge the The 18-year veteran officer is also facing Services Board meeting. information, the government said revealing charges of obstruction and sharing police in- (CBC News) the records could affect “enforcement pro- formation, Smyth said. ceedings,’’ but did not elaborate. “This is a dark chapter for the Winnipeg Sep 16 2016 The case stems from the FBI’s announce- Police Service, full stop,’’ Smyth told re- VANCOUVER - The lawyer for a Brit- ment in March that it had purchased a tool porters Friday. “Incidents like this are rare. ish Columbia RCMP officer charged to unlock the iPhone, aborting the court fight We hope the public understands the actions with luring after a sting by a vigilante with Apple that had in turn triggered a debate of one member does not represent our com- group says his client will vigorously about the proper balance between electronic mitment to the community. The Winnipeg defend himself. privacy and national security. Police Service does not tolerate this kind of Rishi Gill says Const. Dario Devic is ea- The FBI for weeks had maintained that conduct.’’ ger to have the matter dealt with before the only Apple could help it unlock the phone. The investigation began when “irregu- court. At the Justice Department’s request, a mag- larities’’ came to light regarding how prop- Gill confirms Devic faces a luring istrate judge in February directed Apple to erty, evidence, cash and police information charge and one of breach of trust, allega- create software that would bypass security were being handled, Smyth said. Profession- tions that will come before a judge again features on the phone so that the FBI could al standards investigators went back to 2010 next month.

6 Last week the RCMP announced they ar- The filings with the Court of Appeal might be useful or convenient.’’ rested an officer after a group that calls itself come in support of a coalition request to in- RCMP have charged the Toronto-born Surrey Creep Catchers livestreamed a sting tervene in a case involving an RCMP demand Shirdon in absentia with several offences, in- where its members gathered to confront a for Vice Media to turn over materials related cluding leaving Canada to participate in the man who they alleged was going to meet an to a terrorism investigation. The information activity of a terrorist group, taking part in the underage girl. is related to stories journalist Ben Makuch activity of the Islamic State terrorist group, Police have not identified the officer, say- wrote about accused terrorist Farah Shirdon. and threatening Canada and the United ing only that he has been removed from duty Vice has refused the demand and is ap- States. Police and government lawyers argue and was released from custody last weekend pealing a ruling from Superior Court Justice the information is crucial to the ongoing in- with conditions. Ian MacDonnell in March that they must do vestigation of Shirdon. Creep Catchers is a loose collection of so. The appeal is to be heard in February, In its separate application for leave to organizations across Canada that tout them- with the media coalition set to make its case intervene, the Canadian Civil Liberties As- selves as being dedicated to exposing and for intervention on Oct. 27. sociation says it wants to focus primarily on publicly shaming people they claim are child The coalition includes news organizations court orders sealing or banning from publica- sexual predators. such as the CBC and Aboriginal People’s Tel- tion the materials police relied on to obtain Their members pose online as minors evision Network, as well as advocacy groups the production order against Vice. before meeting in person to film and berate such as Canadian Journalists for Free Expres- “The open-court principle is a fundamen- their targets. sion and Reporters Without Borders. tal principle of the Canadian justice system,’’ The RCMP have warned citizen groups In seeking leave to intervene, they say the the association argues. against confronting alleged child predators, issue at hand is far reaching and raises consti- The Crown opposes the intervention ap- and said doing so could put people in danger tutional questions of public importance. plications but has yet to file its materials. and obstruct official police investigations. Journalists, they argue, should be able to communicate with sources and conduct their Sep 18 2016 work within a zone of privacy, without fear ST. JOHN’S, N.L. - She was finishing of being compelled to produce information her last college exams, the Christmas SUNDAY or documents to law enforcement authorities. season stretching before her, when SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 In a supporting affidavit, Duncan Pike she went out for a Saturday night in with the free expression group said the Su- downtown St. John’s with friends. preme Court has made it clear a judge must What should have been a celebration end- Sep 18 2016 be particularly careful in granting police or ed with a horrific sex attack at knife point that CALGARY - A Calgary police officer is government requests to force media to pro- left the young woman known only as Jane Doe listed in stable condition after he was duce materials. traumatized, bleeding and crying for help. severely injured during a struggle “Production orders targeting the media She is now suing the province of New- with a suspect. will always have a chilling effect,’’ Pike foundland and Labrador, alleging police The incident occurred yesterday after- states. “A production order against the me- failed to properly warn the public that a pred- noon at the Marlborough shopping mall in dia should not be granted simply because it ator was stalking young women. northeast Calgary. Acting police chief Trevor Daroux says a suspect attacked the officer with a ``large blad- ed weapon’’ after police responded to reports of a fight at a nearby light rapid transit station. Daroux says the suspect confronted the officer after running into the mall. He says the officer first used his Taser, but it was ineffective so he discharged his service firearm. It was unclear last night whether the suspect, who police say is known to them, was hit by a bullet. Daroux would only say that the officer and suspect were both in hospital in stable condition. The province’s police watchdog, the Al- berta Serious Incident Response Team, is investigating the incident.

Sep 18 2016 TORONTO - Forcing journalists to act as investigators for police would undermine the critical role news outlets play in a free society, a coalition of media organizations argue in documents filed with Ontario’s top court. Journalists, the group argues, must be able to gather news by communicating with citizens who are in an adversarial relationship with the state. “If journalists or media organizations are too easily conscripted into serving as the de facto ‘investigative arm of the police,’ they will be unable to perform their vital societal role,’’ they say. “Important stories will go untold.’’ 7 Her lawyer, Allison Conway, says her cli- dark may be at greater risk and should take Sep 19 2016 ent, then 23, had no idea that four other wom- precautions. CALGARY, AB - Calgary police have en and a 15-year-old girl had been assaulted They also asked anyone with information charged two men in separate inci- in previous months while walking downtown to contact Crime Stoppers. dents over the weekend where offic- alone late at night or in early morning. The force issued another media release ers fired their weapons at suspects. “She’s a prudent individual,’’ Conway on Dec. 9 with details of the attack on Doe. A gun was fired on Saturday afternoon said in an interview. Both the RNC and a spokeswoman for when police tried to stop a vehicle at the “She had arranged a ride home with her the Justice Department declined to comment Blackfoot Truck Stop in the southeast. mother. She thought ahead. And she was com- as the matter is before the courts. No state- About an hour later, an officer chased a pletely unaware that there was someone out ment of defence has been filed and the claims suspect who allegedly had a machete through there who had already attacked five people.’’ have not been proven. Marlborough Mall in northeast Calgary. Thirty years after a precedent-setting law- “The RNC takes its responsibility to no- An officer was severely injured before he suit in Toronto over the police force’s failure tify the public of potential harm seriously,’’ shot the suspect. to warn women of the so-called Balcony Rap- said a statement from Chief William Janes. In the mall incident, 24-year-old Antonio ist, the lawsuit raises some similar issues. At issue is whether police adequately Bautista faces charges of aggravated assault, A woman attacked by Paul Callow in the notified potential victims at the time, Con- assaulting a peace officer, possession of a summer of 1986 won $220,000 in a 1998 way said. dangerous weapon and other offences related court judgment that found investigators were “The question for us is whether or not to probation and outstanding warrants. negligent. these warnings, if they existed, were suf- Dakota Casey, who is 23, is charged Allan Hutchinson, a professor at Os- ficient to discharge the duty that’s - estab with assault of a peace officer, assault with a goode Hall Law School in Toronto, said the lished as per the Jane Doe Metropolitan weapon, criminal hit and run and a number of Ontario decision could have a “persuasive ef- Toronto case.’’ other counts in the truck stop incident. fect’’ in Newfoundland. Hutchinson said the Jane Doe in that case Police say officers tried to stop a man in a It set out that, in special circumstances, has since spoken publicly about how the cash vehicle, but the man fled and that’s when one police may owe a duty to warn a particular settlement was secondary. What she really officer fired at the vehicle. group at risk, he said. wanted was for the public and police to change Alberta Serious Incident Response Team “They could have put notices up, which attitudes and step up response around sexual is investigating both incidents. is not very difficult for the police to do. And assaults, including more support for survivors. (CFFR) the police were criticized in this Toronto case because they put capturing the guy ahead of Sep 19 2016 warning women about future assaults.’’ CHICAGO - The Chicago Police De- In St. John’s, Jane Doe was the last of six MONDAY partment launched mandatory training alleged assaults involving Sofyan Boalag, 37, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 designed to help officers de-escalate between September and December of 2012. conflicts, including situations involv- One of the women refused to testify. ing the use of force and mental health Doe filed a statement of claim in pro- Sep 19 2016 issues, officials said Monday. vincial Supreme Court last January that says KINGSTON, ON - Police say a man be- The program, which Superintendent Ed- all of the attacks took place in a similar part ing investigated for impaired driving die Johnson discussed at an evening news of the city, and involved people with similar showed officers his Costco card when conference, is among several department re- characteristics — five young women and one asked for his driver’s licence. forms following the fatal shooting of teenager teenaged girl. Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times by “The defendant failed to take reasonable police. The department, which is undergoing a steps, or any steps, to perform its duties of U.S. Department of Justice investigation, will care to the plaintiff, including the duty to expand the use of body cameras, and Mayor warn the plaintiff as a member of an identifi- Rahm Emanuel has pitched a new police ac- able group at risk,’’ it says. countability system. He’s expected to give a Doe wants unspecified general and spe- speech on policing and crime this week. cial damages for “irreparable psychological The de-escalation training at the Chica- harm’’ and loss of opportunity, physical pain go Police Academy, which is in its second and “continuous distress caused by memories week, was developed with a panel of na- of the assault.’’ Investigators say a witness called po- tional policing and mental health experts. Conway said helping ensure better warn- lice in Kingston, Ont., around midnight on It uses live scenarios and exercises to help ings in future is even more important for her Sunday after a pickup truck crashed into a officers better assess how to respond to client than compensation. car while parking and the driver then stum- complex and tense situations. Some of the Boalag, an Algerian who faces deporta- bled away from the scene, using nearby tactics include using slower and calmer ap- tion if released, was convicted last month of walls for support. proaches when possible. three counts of sexual assault with a weapon, Officers located a man standing at a near- During a news conference, Johnson robbery and several other counts, including by corner and say the witness identified him said the training is designed to teach offic- choking Doe until she passed out. He has not as the person who left the pickup. ers how to avoid the use of deadly force yet been sentenced. When asked for his driver’s licence, they whenever possible. According to the judge’s ruling in the crim- say the man first pulled a Costco card from “That’s how we build trust,’’ he added. “By inal case, Boalag was arrested after a struggle his wallet, then his firearms licence, before letting the public know we are doing everything with three officers on the evening of Dec. 10, finally locating the required identification. we can to resolve conflicts peacefully.’’ 2012 — the day after Doe was attacked. Police say the 42-year-old Hamilton All of about 12,500 sworn officers will un- Three days earlier on Dec. 7, the Royal man was charged with impaired driving af- dergo the two-day training within about a year, Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) had ister breath tests indicated his blood-alcohol which includes drills to test their reactions and sued a media release warning of “an uniden- level was approximately two times over the judgment, according to The Chicago Tribune. tified offender who may be responsible for legal limit. Sgt. Larry Snelling, a lead instructor in de- one or more sexual assaults in the downtown The man’s driver’s licence has been auto- escalation, said trainers will draw on real-life and centre city area.’’ matically suspended for 90 days and his vehi- examples of police who ended up using force. It cautioned women walking alone after cle was seized and impounded for seven days. In discussing the training, Snelling

8 mentioned the December 2015 shootings of profit-driven and shareholder-driven, then 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier and 55-year- you’re going to have people issuing parking old Bettie Jones. Officer Robert Rialmo was tickets for profit, not for traffic purposes,” TUESDAY responding to a 911 call for help when he fa- McCormack said. SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 tally shot LeGrier, claiming the student was The city and Toronto Police share re- coming at him with a bat. The shooting of sponsibilities in parking enforcement. The Jones has been called an accident. Rialmo RFI, which has an Oct. 7 deadline, only af- Sep 20 2016 has not been charged in the shootings. fects the police portion of the service. HALIFAX - The editor of a Halifax gos- “If we’re not Monday morning quar- An interim task-force report this year sip and satire magazine is tentatively terbacking, we’re not getting better,’’ looking at modernizing the police force rec- scheduled to be tried for allegedly vi- Snelling said. ommended assessing alternatives to the cur- olating a publication ban in the case Some community leaders were skeptical rent parking-enforcement model. of a man charged with murdering a of the impact without other improvements, Last year, the unit responded to more female police officer. particularly in impoverished neighbourhoods than 148,000 parking-related calls and issued Frank Magazine’s managing editor, that’ve experienced more violence. around 1.97 million tickets. Andrew Douglas, briefly appeared today in “What would really help would be escalat- The same interim report also suggested the Halifax provincial court for the setting of the ing resources in blighted communities,’’ said police look at different ways of delivering the Dec. 15 court date. the Rev. Gregory Livingston with the Coali- lifeguard and school crossing guard programs. Judge Gregory Lenehan said the date tion for a New Chicago. “If you don’t escalate the resources, all the de-escalation training in the world will not make a difference.’’ Over the weekend, the police department announced that it will expand the use of body cameras to include all officers on patrol by 2018, which follows a 2015 pilot program with the cameras. Emanuel’s administration has proposed a new system to investigate police-involved shootings, officer complaints and department practices, which City Council members are considering. It includes creating a new agency and deputy inspector general position. Emanuel’s speech is slated for Thursday evening. McDonald, a black 17-year-old, was fatal- ly shot in 2014 by a white police officer, who’s since been charged with murder. Graphic squad-car video of the shooting was released last year, prompting citywide protests, police leadership changes and the federal probe.

Sep 19 2016 TORONTO - The Toronto police service has issued a request for information (RFI) from anyone interested in running all or some of the parking enforcement units, which has a $47-million gross operating budget for 2016. Parking officers are “obviously watching this with some caution,” said Mike McCor- mack, president of the Toronto Police Asso- ciation, the union that represents all 394 police parking enforcement officers. “So they’re very concerned.” Toronto Police spokesman Meaghan Gray said the RFI doesn’t commit the force to changing anything. “It allows us to determine what options are available to us if we decided to go for- ward with that process,” she said. “It won’t make a difference to us if some- body sends us a proposal that is less money, but if they’re not able to provide the same services that are currently provided, then that’s going to be a concern for us,” Gray added. McCormack says keeping parking enforcement in the hands of police employees is the best option. “We believe that if you were to put a place like the parking enforcement unit in the hands of a private corporation, which is

9 could be changed, and that the lawyers would Graham Labonte of Belle River, P.E.I., say The P.E.I. couple did not pose a threat to discuss the date again before it is confirmed. they were en route to an appointment near the officer, Hernden said, noting that Labonte The Frank article that drew the police Halifax last September when they say they was holding his cellphone while videotaping charges was based on a document concern- spotted a police SUV driving erratically. and making a 911 call, and Acorn had already ing Catherine Campbell, a 36-year-old Truro “While the plaintiffs’ vehicle was pass- been restrained with handcuffs. police officer. ing the police vehicle, Ms. Acorn gestured MacGillivray’s only attempt at commu- The document was placed before the to Sgt. MacGillivray (to ask) if he was nication during the routine traffic stop was court as the preliminary hearing into the sec- OK,’’ the lawsuit says. “Sgt. MacGillivray “screaming orders,’’ Hernden said. ond-degree murder charges against Christo- did not respond.’’ “This is not about something more seri- pher Calvin Garnier was starting. The lawsuit says the couple’s vehicle was ous, where they might bail into their car and Police have said Campbell went missing subsequently pulled over by MacGillivray, take off,’’ he said. after meeting a man at a bar in Halifax, and who they say was standing behind their ve- When asked about the length of time that her body was found near an overpass that hicle when he started asking the driver, La- that had transpired during the incident — leads to a harbour bridge. bonte, a series of questions. about 2.5 minutes — Hernden said there Douglas has repeatedly said his story Labonte asked the officer to step closer and was more than enough time to use de-esca- about Campbell was researched, written and identify himself because he couldn’t hear him, lation techniques. published ahead of the publication ban and but MacGillivray “became loud, aggressive and “It’s a remarkable amount of time to that this is a valid defence against the publi- started yelling at him,’’ the lawsuit says, adding change the outcome.’’ cation ban accusation. that Acorn got out of the car to determine “if the The couple’s lawsuit also names MacGil- However, Crown lawyer Catherine Cog- police officer was in distress.’’ livray and the Halifax Regional Municipality. swell has said out court that prosecutors feel At that point, MacGillivray told her she there is a reasonable probability of convic- would be arrested if she failed to get back tion. into the car. (The Canadian Press) “Ms. Acorn ... started walking back to WEDNESDAY the plaintiffs’ vehicle when suddenly and SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 Sep 20 2016 without warning Sgt. MacGillivray grabbed PUNNICHY, Sask. - Two men are fac- Ms. Acorn from behind, pushed her over the ing several weapons charges after a trunk, handcuffed her and advised that she Sep 21 2016 standoff with police on a Saskatch- was under arrest,’’ the lawsuit says. OTTAWA -The federal labour minister ewan First Nation. The couple’s statement of claim alleges is looking at whether Canada Labour Punnichy RCMP say they got a call early that MacGillivray was careless and negli- Code reforms are needed to address Sunday morning about threats and firearms at gent, and that he failed to use reasonable harassment issues within the RCMP a residence on the Kawacatoose First Nation. force when he allegedly assaulted and injured after hearing from a disgruntled fe- Officers found some suspects at a differ- both of them. male Mountie. ent residence on the First Nation and tried to None of the allegations has been proven MaryAnn Mihychuk asked for a briefing take them into custody, but they refused to in court. from Public Safety officials after receiving leave the house. On Tuesday, a three-member police a message from an RCMP member who al- Police called in more officers, including board panel was shown a 20-second video leged the Mounties had failed to “adequately a crisis negotiator, and say it was resolved that features MacGillivray, in uniform, stand- address her complaints’’ of sexual harass- without incident a few hours later. ing behind a visibly upset Acorn, whose ment through internal procedures, an internal Seven adults were taken into custody and hands are behind her back. government memo reveals. two men from Regina were charged. As the scene unfolds, MacGillivray Mihychuk and her officials wanted to Michael David Blueeyes, who is 25, is points at Labonte, who is operating the cam- know more about the RCMP’s policies, pro- due in court on Friday while Ricky Charles era, and yells, “You are both under arrest!’’ cedures and guidelines to gauge the need for Longman, who is 24, has a court date of Acorn then screams: “You better fucking possible amendments to Part 2 of the Canada Nov. 8. calm down! Calm down!’’ Labour Code, intended to protect employees From behind the camera, Labonte yells, from violence in the workplace. Sep 20 2016 “I want your name.’’ Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale HALIFAX - A Halifax police officer is MacGillivray says his name and rank, received a copy of the unidentified Mountie’s challenging his demotion after he was then pulls off his name tag and throws it in email as well as messages and letters from involved in a routine traffic stop last front of Acorn. 17 other people, including current and former year that degenerated into a ugly con- “You can have it, take it!’’ the officer RCMP members, detailing their experiences frontation with a P.E.I. couple headed says as he moves backward, pulling Acorn of workplace and sexual harassment within for a medical appointment. towards a guardrail. the police force, the memo adds. Const. Matthew MacGillivray, a former The video ends abruptly. The Canadian Press obtained a declassi- police sergeant, was demoted in January after At no time did Acorn or Labonte act ag- fied version of the heavily censored February a Halifax Regional Police disciplinary officer gressively or resist arrest, the lawsuit says. memo under the Access to Information Act. found he had used unnecessary force and en- They later filed a complaint against the officer. The RCMP has been grappling for years gaged in discreditable conduct. Hernden, in charge of officers on the Halifax with complaints from women and men about MacGillivray has launched an appeal peninsula, testified Tuesday that MacGil- bullying and harassment. before the Nova Scotia Police Review livray’s actions only made matters worse. Just two months ago, the national police Board, which entered its second day of hear- “There were opportunities where he force said it would launch a new effort to ings Tuesday. could have successfully de-escalated,’’ eliminate sexual misconduct in the workplace Insp. Lindsay Hernden, a divisional com- Hernden told the hearing. after an internal review criticized its response mander, told the hearing MacGillivray failed “What was missed here was the oppor- to an “egregious’’ case involving nudity and to properly communicate or use de-escalation tunity to take advantage of those moments harassment at the RCMP-administered police techniques during the incident, which was ... Instead, it escalated to the point where a college. partially captured on a cellphone camera. firearm was almost used.’’ In response to questions about Mihy- MacGillivray has yet to testify. Hernden said that at one point, MacGil- chuk’s concerns, Employment and Social In a lawsuit filed this month against livray placed his hand on his holster and was Development Canada officials said the min- Halifax Regional Police, Angela Acorn and in the process of releasing one of its restraints. ister was working with Status of Women

10 Minister Patty Hajdu to ensure the safety of a former Molson brewery in Barrie, Ont. — Police say they have charged Boisjoli workers under federal jurisdiction. one of the largest such busts in the country to and other Freemen with intimidation before, “Violence and sexual harassment are un- this day. The men were sentenced to two to but it’s the first time the charge has been laid acceptable in the workplace, and in any en- five years behind bars. in Canada strictly dealing with unlawful pa- vironment.’’ Schilling, a surgical consultant whose of- perwork. Employment and Social Development fice has been next to Barrs’ for more than two Freemen, who don’t recognize govern- Canada consults with Public Safety whenev- decades, says he watched the incident unfold ment or authority, often use the tactic of er needed in order to provide Mihychuk with through a second-floor window. overwhelming courts with documents to try comprehensive and current briefings, the of- (The Canadian Press) to have charges against them dismissed or ficials added. withdrawn, said Det. Rae Gerrard. The RCMP did not respond to questions Sep 21 2016 “They use a plethora of documents which about the government memo. MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Two Toronto really mean absolutely nothing,’’ Gerrard Scott Bardsley, a spokesman for Goodale, police officers who shot a- men said Wednesday. said the minister has taken a number of steps tally unstable woman armed with “They’re just cutting and pasting from on harassment in the RCMP. a meat cleaver several times after all over the Internet, from laws all over the They include appointing a former audi- she threatened to harm her young world. They put them together into hundreds tor general to review the RCMP’s response son and paramedics last November and hundreds of pages of documents and to lawsuits from four members of the force won’t be facing charges. flood the courts with this.’’ alleging harassment. Ontario’s police watchdog agency says The term “paper terrorism’’ has been As a special adviser, Sheila Fraser will several people, including the 45-year-old used by the courts in previous cases to de- provide recommendations on the policies and woman, had called 911, and paramedics who scribe a misuse of legal processes. procedures the national police force pursued responded left after the woman ran at them Boisjoli was pulled over by the Bea- after Catherine Galliford, Alice Fox, Atoya brandishing the knife. ver County officer near Tofield, about 70 Montague and Susan Gastaldo filed legal The Special Investigations Unit says kilometres east of Edmonton, in May 2015. proceedings against the RCMP. two officers arrived and the woman ignored Boisjoli posted a YouTube video of his In addition, Goodale has told the RCMP several demands that she drop the knife over friendly-yet-stubborn interaction with the he expects comprehensive, transparent inves- a period of about a minute before she rushed officer, in which Boisjoli said speeding isn’t tigations, serious disciplinary measures, sup- at them. a crime. port for victims and concrete action to end Unknown to the two officers, another He never paid the ticket and a judge con- toxic workplace behaviour. officer with a Taser had positioned himself victed him when he failed to show up and He has also asked the Civilian Review behind them and he deployed his weapon fight it in court, said Gerrard. and Complaints Commission for the RCMP around the same time as the officers fired It’s alleged that Boisjoli filed various false to look at whether recommendations it made their guns, injuring her in the abdomen, pel- documents against the peace officer over three three years ago on harassment have been im- vis and right arm. months, including a personal lien on the offic- plemented. The SIU says the young boy did not wit- er’s property, claiming an award of $225,000 In a 2013 report, the watchdog said the ness the shooting as he had left the house for being detained and issued the ticket. force must take swift and effective action on through another exit during the standoff. Gerrard said Boisjoli has a history of complaints of harassment and intimidation to Acting SIU director Joseph Martino similar behaviour. He was previously con- restore the shaken confidence of both mem- says the evidence “reasonably establishes’’ victed of intimidation and sentenced to 13 bers and the public. that the shooting and the conducted energy months in jail in 2013. It called for a more independent process, weapon discharge fell within the definition of The officer added that Boisjoli is also strict timelines for responding to accusations self-defence under the Criminal Code. part of several other groups claiming self- and force-wide training on the issue. “While the woman was clearly not of sovereignty. An online profile lists Boisjoli as Since then, new legislation has revamped sound mind at the time on the day in ques- founder of Judicial Watch and the Sovereign the way such cases are handled within the tion, she clearly represented a real and present Coalition of Exempt Natural Entities. force and training has also been stepped up. danger to herself and others,’’ Martino said Members of the Freemen-on-the-Land The Mounties have pledged zero toler- Wednesday in a release. movement commonly claim they do not re- ance for harassment. Martino noted that the woman recog- quire a driver’s licence, assert their rights to nized her faltering capacities and attempted have weapons for self-protection and squat in Sep 21 2016 to seek help for herself and protection for unoccupied homes. TORONTO - A criminal defence law- those around her when she called 911 and In 2013, a Freeman took over a Calgary yer who once worked on one of the asked for an ambulance. duplex and claimed it as his embassy. After biggest marijuana cases in Canadian “Regrettably, by the time of the paramed- the landlady struggled for two years to get the history has been identified as the man ics’ arrival, her mental condition had taken a man out, police arrested him on outstanding wounded in a shooting in an upscale turn for the worse and she attacked the very warrants in Quebec. Toronto neighbourhood. people who were there to help her,’’ he said. The Law Society of British Columbia Peter Schilling, who witnessed the at- The SIU is an arm’s length agency that and B.C. Notaries have issued several warn- tack Tuesday afternoon, says J. Randall Barrs investigates reports involving police where ings about Freemen and estimated the group was shot near his law office in the Yorkville there has been death, serious injury or allega- could number as many as 30,000 in Canada. neighbourhood. tions of sexual assault. The FBI considers the movement a domestic The incident is now being investigated terror threat in the United States. by Ontario’s police watchdog, which says it Sep 21 2016 was called in because the gunman was shot EDMONTON - Police have charged a Sep 21 2016 by a plainclothes officer who intervened. self-proclaimed Freeman on the Land VANCOUVER - British Columbia is The 66-year-old lawyer, who is now in with carrying out a “paper terrorism’’ bombarding the province with thou- hospital recovering from gunshot wounds campaign against a peace officer who sands of overdose-reversing nalox- to his legs, says on his website that he has issued him a speeding ticket. one kits as part of its all-out assault defended clients in several murder and Allen Boisjoli, 45, of Vegreville, Alta., against a drug crisis that has already drug cases. faces a charge of intimidating a justice offi- killed 488 people this year. In one high-profile case, Barrs represent- cial and is to appear in an Edmonton court- Health Minister Terry Lake announced ed farmers who ran a marijuana grow-op in room Nov. 7. during an update on the opioid crisis on

11 Wednesday that 13,000 life-saving kits have Applying to offer safe-injection services The SIU is an arm’s length agency that been distributed across B.C. to sites such as became especially difficult after the previ- investigates reports involving police where hospitals, jails, and health centres, and so far ous federal government passed a law in early there has been death, serious injury or allega- 2,100 have been reportedly used. 2015, adding several prohibitive regulations. tions of sexual assault. The number of deaths involving illicit “After reviewing the post-mortem report, opioids decreased to 49 in August from 55 in Sept 21 2016 I am satisfied the man died as a result of a July, but 488 people have died in B.C. so far SURREY, B.C - The Independent In- cardiac arrest set into motion by his abuse this year while 505 deaths were reported in vestigations Office is looking into an of illegal drugs,’’ Loparco said Thursday in all of 2015, Lake said. incident stemming from the Vancou- a release. “(August) marks the first month of 2016 ver police takedown this week of three “His highly erratic and dangerous driv- where the number was reduced over the suspects wanted in connection with a ing, apparent disassociated state, aggressive equivalent month in 2015 but we are very, double-homicide. behaviour and other physical symptoms are very cautious about what that means,’’ Health Police arrested the three, Sept. 19, short- all indicative of having consumed a signifi- Minister Terry Lake told a news conference. ly after they crashed into a vehicle on East cant quantity of cocaine.’’ “We need more data, more time to see if Eighth Avenue in New Westminster. Loparco said the man was a large and there’s a trend happening.’’ During the arrests, an innocent man at- powerful individual who had consumed Over 11,000 people have received train- tempted to flee the scene after his automobile cocaine, and was both combative and non- ing to administer naloxone, which is available was hit by the suspect vehicle, according to compliant. at over 300 sites in B.C. including emergency acting VPD Sgt. Brian Montague. rooms, three jails and one prison, he said. He was bitten by a police service dog “All ambulance crews and 46 fire de- and is now in a local hospital with serious partments are now carrying naloxone,’’ he injuries. said, adding the B.C. Centre for Disease “We apologize that someone from the Control is expanding its take-home nalox- public had to get caught up in something like one program and the province expects to that,” said Montague, who also said police reach its goal of opening 500 new addiction would be reaching out to the family. treatment beds by 2017. Montague didn’t directly defend the in- The opioid fentanyl still involves 60 per cident but said it arose out of the chaotic na- cent of fatalities among people who often ture of the takedown, which involved rescu- don’t know they’re taking it, the province’s ing a person who was allegedly kidnapped Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said. by the suspects. She said 264 people have died from “We’re dealing with armed people who January to the end of August as a result of are potentially alleged to have committed taking fentanyl with another drug, mostly murders, who have a kidnap victim in their ve- cocaine, up from 82 deaths a year ago. hicle, and we had to act very quickly,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see so many people The IIO says it will determine whether recognizing that the number of illicit drug any officer committed an offence as a result deaths in this province is truly a crisis and we of the injuries the man suffered and will be must all work together to try and reduce that interviewing involved officers and witnesses. toll, which is predominantly affecting young people and people who should have many more years of life ahead of them,’’ she said. British Columbia has been the epicen- THURSDAY tre of opioid deaths in Canada, and the SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 province declared a public health emergency in April, after which the coroner’s Sep 22 2016 service began releasing monthly statistics MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - The Special In- on overdose deaths. vestigations Unit says no charges will In June, Premier Christy Clark announced be laid against four Toronto police of- a joint task force on overdose response. ficers in the death of a man arrested “It’s a massive effort,’’ Lake said, adding after a drug-fuelled drive through sev- overdose deaths involving fentanyl have hit eral backyards. communities across North America. The police watchdog agency says offic- “So people have been reaching out to ers responded to several calls early on July 1, British Columbia to learn about what we’re 2015, reporting a vehicle being driven through doing,’’ he said. backyards, causing significant damage. Earlier Wednesday, the chief medi- After 30-minute search, officers located cal health officer of Vancouver Coastal a man - agitated and bleeding profusely from Health said the city could see as many a head wound and believed to be the driver as four new supervised-injection sites by — who threw a rock and a wooden stake at early next year. police before losing his balance and falling Dr. Patricia Daly said the authority is ap- in a garden. plying to Health Canada to expand the number The SIU says the 33-year-old man was of harm-reduction sites in its area, where there handcuffed following a struggle with four of- are currently two such facilities. Insite, in ficers but was unresponsive and paramedics’ Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, was North efforts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. America’s first supervised injection site. SIU director Tony Loparco says an au- Daly said it’s impossible to give a time- topsy determined the man — who had a his- line for when the sites would open, but she tory of anabolic steroid use and had taken hoped they will be up and running by early cocaine and tamoxifen — died of a cardiac next year. arrest indicative of cocaine intoxication.