Judge Recommends Armoured Vehicle for Alberta RCMP: Knowledge Driven Revolution

An Alberta judge is recommending the RCMP increase resources for emergency response teams, including an armoured personnel carrier, as police turn to such teams more often.

Judge Peter Ayotte also said psychiatrists should have the option to continue treating a psychiatric patient who has been involuntarily admitted for up to a month after his symptoms disappear. Ayotte's conclusions come from a fatality inquiry into the shootings of Cpl. James Galloway and Martin Ostopovich, who both died in an armed standoff on March 1, 2004, in Spruce Grove, just outside Edmonton.

Ayotte concluded RCMP handled the situation appropriately, but he made 13 recommendations to prevent similar events.

"Incidents requiring ERT intervention are on the rise," wrote Ayotte, pointing to testimony suggesting the number of such calls is up by about 20 a year.

Ayotte also wrote that police must keep pace in the criminal arms race.

"We live in an age of rapid technological advancement where those so inclined have . . . increasing access to more sophisticated and powerful weaponry."

Ayotte recommended that the RCMP and the provincial government fund the creation of full-time emergency response teams. The province's three existing teams are composed of officers who have other duties and are called in when required.

That system creates manpower shortages for regular policing and makes it harder to assemble and train a cohesive team, Ayotte wrote.

Ostopovich shot Galloway when the officer used his cruiser to ram Ostopovich's vehicle as it was leaving the driveway of his home. Ostopovich was then shot by officers.

An armoured personnel carrier could have prevented both deaths, wrote Ayotte.

"The utility of an armoured vehicle in incidents like this was most apparent at the inquiry," the report reads.

But RCMP spokesman Cpl. Al Fraser said armour might cause more problems than it solves.

RCMP would not only have to decide what type of vehicle they need, they would have to figure out where to store it and move it around. It might also not be popular with the public, Fraser said.

"Is this something Albertans are going to be comfortable with - an armoured personnel carrier on our streets?"

Ottawa's RCMP ERT team, which is responsible for Parliament Hill, is the only such team in Canada that has an armoured vehicle.

Fraser did agree that ERT squads are being used more often, especially after the 2005 deaths of four RCMP members in Mayerthorpe, Alta. Such squads are increasingly being called out for meth labs or sophisticated marijuana grow-ops, he said.

"There is increasing use of those resources."

Fraser said it would cost about $300,000 a year to make the two commanders of each Alberta ERT squad full-time.

There are already full-time RCMP ERT teams in Quebec, Ontario and B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The Atlantic provinces are considering the idea.

Ostopovich had been taken to an Edmonton psychiatric ward after making threats against RCMP officers in the week before the shootings, but he was released when his doctor decided she didn't have the power to keep him under treatment any longer.

Ayotte recommended legal changes to allow doctors to keep a patient involuntarily under care for up to 30 days after the immediate threat to public safety has gone.

Alberta Health has been studying such changes for several years already, said spokeswoman Lorelei Fiset.

"We need to ensure we balance the rights of the individual against the need for public safety," she said. "This would require legislative changes."

However, Ayotte's recommendations were welcomed by the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta.

"This is what we've been saying for years," said executive director Giri Puligandla.

The society said the inquiry report would give families and health professionals a way to help people who can't even understand how sick they are.

Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario all have some version of such legislation, the society said.

Ayotte also called for increased spending on education for mental health professionals and the expansion into Edmonton's suburbs of a program that trains police officers in mental health issues.

Andy Weiler of the province's Solicitor-General's department said the province is studying the judge's recommendations.

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HOME Rouge States and the 9/11 Truth Terrorists Canadians Should Pay NOT to be Poisoned: NDP V for Vendetta - R for Reality Canadian Bird Flu Pandemic Looming ? Shill of the Week: Stephan Harper Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer Chicken Little Terrorist of the Week: Creating Fake Terrorists Shill of the Week: Paul Martin The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave	Judge Recommends Armoured Vehicle for Alberta RCMP Bob Weber - CP via StopLying.ca November 24, 2006 An Alberta judge is recommending the RCMP increase resources for emergency response teams, including an armoured personnel carrier, as police turn to such teams more often. Judge Peter Ayotte also said psychiatrists should have the option to continue treating a psychiatric patient who has been involuntarily admitted for up to a month after his symptoms disappear. Ayotte's conclusions come from a fatality inquiry into the shootings of Cpl. James Galloway and Martin Ostopovich, who both died in an armed standoff on March 1, 2004, in Spruce Grove, just outside Edmonton. Ayotte concluded RCMP handled the situation appropriately, but he made 13 recommendations to prevent similar events. "Incidents requiring ERT intervention are on the rise," wrote Ayotte, pointing to testimony suggesting the number of such calls is up by about 20 a year. Ayotte also wrote that police must keep pace in the criminal arms race. "We live in an age of rapid technological advancement where those so inclined have . . . increasing access to more sophisticated and powerful weaponry." Ayotte recommended that the RCMP and the provincial government fund the creation of full-time emergency response teams. The province's three existing teams are composed of officers who have other duties and are called in when required. That system creates manpower shortages for regular policing and makes it harder to assemble and train a cohesive team, Ayotte wrote. Ostopovich shot Galloway when the officer used his cruiser to ram Ostopovich's vehicle as it was leaving the driveway of his home. Ostopovich was then shot by officers. An armoured personnel carrier could have prevented both deaths, wrote Ayotte. "The utility of an armoured vehicle in incidents like this was most apparent at the inquiry," the report reads. But RCMP spokesman Cpl. Al Fraser said armour might cause more problems than it solves. RCMP would not only have to decide what type of vehicle they need, they would have to figure out where to store it and move it around. It might also not be popular with the public, Fraser said. "Is this something Albertans are going to be comfortable with - an armoured personnel carrier on our streets?" Ottawa's RCMP ERT team, which is responsible for Parliament Hill, is the only such team in Canada that has an armoured vehicle. Fraser did agree that ERT squads are being used more often, especially after the 2005 deaths of four RCMP members in Mayerthorpe, Alta. Such squads are increasingly being called out for meth labs or sophisticated marijuana grow-ops, he said. "There is increasing use of those resources." Fraser said it would cost about $300,000 a year to make the two commanders of each Alberta ERT squad full-time. There are already full-time RCMP ERT teams in Quebec, Ontario and B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The Atlantic provinces are considering the idea. Ostopovich had been taken to an Edmonton psychiatric ward after making threats against RCMP officers in the week before the shootings, but he was released when his doctor decided she didn't have the power to keep him under treatment any longer. Ayotte recommended legal changes to allow doctors to keep a patient involuntarily under care for up to 30 days after the immediate threat to public safety has gone. Alberta Health has been studying such changes for several years already, said spokeswoman Lorelei Fiset. "We need to ensure we balance the rights of the individual against the need for public safety," she said. "This would require legislative changes." However, Ayotte's recommendations were welcomed by the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. "This is what we've been saying for years," said executive director Giri Puligandla. The society said the inquiry report would give families and health professionals a way to help people who can't even understand how sick they are. Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario all have some version of such legislation, the society said. Ayotte also called for increased spending on education for mental health professionals and the expansion into Edmonton's suburbs of a program that trains police officers in mental health issues. Andy Weiler of the province's Solicitor-General's department said the province is studying the judge's recommendations. Read the full article here Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Features Archive
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