This afternoon we had an "update" from the RCMP regarding the shooting of Don Dunphy by an RNC officer on Easter Sunday.
The report appeared to be an attempt to answer questions posed by bloggers and tweeters - most of are which ordinary citizens.
I am an ordinary citizen and I want to believe in our system of justice - I want to believe that our police services are sound and professional.
I also know scrutiny of our democracy is essential for it's survival - justice too must be prepared for intense scrutiny by citizens for that same purpose.
1. There have been many instances where evidence has been collected improperly,
2. People have been wrongfully convicted,
3. Citizens with mental illness have been shot,
4. Police officers from both forces been found guilty of crimes,
5. People have died while being held in the lock-up or in penal institutions
It is for these obvious reasons we must always remain diligent and as a society ensure that our system of justice remains intact. It is incumbent on all citizens to watch carefully - probe if necessary - to maintain a reasonable level of confidence in the system.
As an RNC or RCMP officer - you know the perils of the job. It is a job with risks - and many times significant risks and it should be noted that:
1. Many police officers have saved the lives of innocent people,
2. Arrested people who ultimately have been found guilty of heinous crimes,
3. Have been killed in the line of duty - while serving to protect,
4. The majority of them have served and retired with impeccable records of service.
With the power given a police officer - it certainly follows the responsibility is great. You are permitted to carry a loaded gun on your person and may fire it and take a life if the threat against you requires that response. Taking the life of another human being is a pretty large burden. You must expect that scrutiny will follow and you must be prepared to accept and participate in that scrutiny.
One moment a man is alive and having a conversation - the next moment he is dead. That's permanent and painful to think about.
I have noticed many making comments such as "well if we can't trust the police", or "well why wouldn't we believe the officer", or in response to people asking questions "why does everything have to be a conspiracy". These comments are not responsible, not helpful, and frankly naive. Not everything is good and not everything is bad - that's why we need critical thinking, constructive probing questions, and healthy skepticism.
Today we are faced with a situation where one man is dead and the only witness to the event - shot him. It is extremely difficult for all parties.
The RCMP "update" today said that Don Dunphy aimed a gun at the officer. Am I to presume the investigation on that information is complete? I can only assume at this time that this information is what has been provided by the officer. Are the forensics complete? Are the angles of gunshot/s - positioning of the gun found by the body of Mr. Dunphy all determined? Has everything the officer said been completely vetted? What I heard from the RCMP officer in response to a media question was that he could not comment on whether the officer followed protocol and was justified to shoot. I also heard the investigation is continuing. The RCMP might have said - the statement given by the officer says....
The RCMP "update" also answered the question regarding communication between the RCMP and the RNC prior to the officer going to Mr. Dunphy's house. There was a determination - said the update - that the visit to Mr. Dunphy's house was low risk and therefore only one officer went.
Clearly something went wrong - for people to ignore that or brush it aside would be willingly ignorant. A low risk assessment ended in the death of one person - shot by the only other witness. This must be the worst possible outcome.
The CBC was taking a bit of heat today on the "source/s told the CBC" piece regarding Mr. Dunphy pointing a gun. Today the RCMP claim this was their belief. Why did David Cochrane and the CBC tell us a day before the police were willing to? This breeds speculation of spin and targeted messaging.
The questions regarding this tragic event are such that an independent inquiry of some sort should be called.
As a citizen - I want to ensure this never happens again. I want to ensure everything possible was done to avoid this outcome.
A inquiry is needed now to place a degree of separation between the two forces that determined the low risk assessment which resulted in one man dead and the officer who shot him - as the only witness. This is a mess and it needs to be addressed.
Let's look at the possible questions:
1. What type of assessment was done and who was involved?
2. What information did the police use to determine a low risk assessment?
3. Who determined that the best approach was to send in an officer from special detail?
4. Who determined that it would not be more reasonable to send in an officer or officers who Mr. Dunphy was familiar with?
5. Did the RCMP know that Mr. Dunphy had a gun?
and on the evidence :
1. Did Mr. Dunphy fire a weapon?
2. Where was the alleged weapon during the entirety of the officer's presence in the home?
3. When did the alleged gun appear?
4. Where was Mr. Dunphy when he allegedly pointed the weapon - where was the officer?
5. What exactly was the conversation between the two?
6. What was talked about immediately before the alleged change in Mr. Dunphy's behavior?
7. Is there any evidence of violence in Mr. Dunphy's past?
Obviously a hundred more questions could be asked.
As I write this - news reports PRESS HERE Contains graphic material
and in January of this year PRESS HERE
Everyday there are reports on both sides - officers killed in the line of duty and officers being charged.
What is paramount for our people and for our system of justice is that we achieve the best truth possible and work to avoid this from ever happening again.
Remember Judge Luther's findings of a judicial inquiry of 2001 - an inquiry on the deaths of two people - one shot by an RCMP officer the other by an RNC officer. PRESS HERE
There are things to be learned from the tragic death of Mr. Dunphy in his own home on Easter Sunday.
An independent inquiry is needed here regardless of the findings of the RCMP.
1. Who would interview the RCMP officer/s involved with risk assessment?
2. What can alleviate most doubt and concern as it relates to the only witness being the shooter?
3. What can we learn from the alleged sudden and unpredicted behavior of Mr. Dunphy?
4. What medical or psychiatric expertise exists on this alleged unpredicted behavioral change in Mr. Dunphy?
5. What can we learn about Mr. Dunphy's continued assertions about being a "tortured injured worker"?
6. Was the Premier's media circuit on the events harmful to the investigation?
7. What is the media's role?
There is a great burden of responsibility placed upon an officer who carries a sidearm. There is a great burden of responsibility placed upon that officer - when he determines a life might need to be taken. There must be a complete acceptance by an officer that scrutiny is expected following the death on another human being.
Let's use whatever tools are available to us to achieve this independent review. This is necessary for all parties involved and for the public to maintain confidence in the system of justice.
We all agree - we were not there - and therefore do not know what took place - let's try to achieve the best level of truth possible through an inquiry or inquest where information and testimony can be seen by all of us and recommendations can be made to avoid another similar tragedy.
When a life is gone - this is the least we can do.
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