VANCOUVER - The federal government should fire RCMP Commissioner William Elliott for his role in the Dziekanski affair, says a group supporting the mother of the Polish immigrant who died in 2007 after being stunned by police Tasers.
Canadian Civil Rights Movement founder Zygmundt Riddle told the Tyee he thinks Elliott is responsible for the mistakes made by his RCMP officers and for what he calls a “cover up” that followed in RCMP press releases and officer testimony before the Braidwood Inquiry.
The inquiry has heard testimony and viewed bystander videotape of Robert Dziekanski’s death that conflict with RCMP testimony. While the Mounties have testified the distraught Polish immigrant was combative and advanced toward officers brandishing a stapler, a number of observers say video and witness evidence suggest Dziekanski was not a serious threat to the officers.
Riddle’s candidate to succeed Elliott as RCMP Commissioner is Dr. Mike Webster, a veteran police psychologist with 30 years experience who testified at the inquiry.
Webster called the death a tragedy and told the inquiry the four officers “panicked” and used “excessive force” in dealing with Dziekanski.
In an exclusive interview with The Tyee, the psychologist commented publicly for the first time on the RCMP officers’ testimony.
“What you saw when the members testified was a well-rehearsed attempt to preserve the image of the RCMP,” Webster said. “Anyone who is familiar with eye-witness testimony knows that different observers of the same incident have differing memories. The four members all presented the same version, which I see as evidence of coaching.”
Webster said he thought his own appointment as commissioner was unlikely, but did have ideas of what he would do with the police force if the opportunity came available.
“I would end contract policing and make the RCMP a non-uniformed federal force like the FBI,” he said.
There would also need to be a significant turnover of current RCMP upper management, he said, in order to bring about the transformational change of the institution called for by some experts.
“I would create a team of young managers with proven track records and officers removed from the top levels of current RCMP management,” Webster said.
“I would only take the job for six months, and I wouldn’t take a dime in pay. The RCMP would never look the same afterwards.”
Tom Sandborn is a Tyee contributing editor and a regular on The Hook. He welcomes your feedback and story tips at tos@infinet.net.
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Jim Van Rassel
2 years ago
How about Chief Justice Brenners resignation?
B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Brenner resigns (flees?)
Does Chief Justice Donald Brenner's resignation have anything to do with the fact that (#1) he is the vice chair of a large Jewish charity and (#2) he has been accused of interfering with the trial of another BC Supreme court judge (Madam Justice Koenigsberg) whose husband (Lubomyr Prytuluk) has been sued and found guilty of being an anti-semite? Doesn't this all look a little creepy to regular folks, and how would a greaseball (IMO) like Wally Oppal improve this situation?
http://www.jimvanrassel.ca/pdf/COURTOFAPPEAL.pdf
Jim Van Rassel
Otis Krayola
2 years ago
How about those plucky Penguins, Jim?
Which has about as much relevance as Van Rassel's comments above to Sandborn's article.
Dungeness_Crab
2 years ago
“What you saw when the
“What you saw when the members testified was a well-rehearsed attempt to preserve the image of the RCMP,” Webster said. “Anyone who is familiar with eye-witness testimony knows that different observers of the same incident have differing memories. The four members all presented the same version, which I see as evidence of coaching.”
Gee, d'ya think? These clowns weren't even smart enough to realize they'd need to vary their stories a little, to even have a shot at the brass ring of credibility. And they're packing guns and authority, with a mandate "to serve and protect."
Gosh, I feel so much safer now.
Otis Krayola
2 years ago
Now, to the RCMP and Dziekanski
When William Elliot said he was "very sorry" for his officers tasering and 'restraining' (to death) Robert Dziekanski, I felt it was all too facile and an attempt to divert focus away from those who are responsible. I am willing to be persuaded otherwise, but it seems to me that a call for the Commissioner to step down is the same kind of error.
I am in accord with Zigmundt Riddle - heads should roll over this needless death. Let us make no mistake - Robert Dziekanski did not just 'happen' to die on the floor of the arrivals lounge at YVR; he was (on evidence) vigorously assisted to the Other Side. The only question is who is the author of this tragedy?
We have all seen the video of the last moments of Dziekanski's life. If the four attending officers - at whose hands Dziekanski met his fate - acted outside of established RCMP policy, confronting and immediately therafter tasering him to the floor, kneeling on his neck and torso while he was 'restrained', and (once 'restrained') failing to monitor his vital functions even when he was in mortal difficulty, they should answer to the charge of (at least) manslaughter. Belonging to a police force affords no amnesty regardless of whether there is deadly intent or deadly neglect.
However, if it can be established that the officers involved were acting according to their training and to RCMP policy, those who are responsible for the policy must answer - Robert Dziekanski's death is on their head(s) and they must be made to answer for it.
Unless it can be established that William Elliot was the author of the policy that lead to the death of Robert Dziekanski, he is a red herring. It is doubtful that Commissioner Elliot is directly responsible either for the actions of the responding officers or for the policy that (should have) directed their actions at YVR. We may well ask, 'who better than the Commissioner to apologise?'. But that apology should not dissuade us from demanding to know who bears responsibility for Dziekanski's death.
And calls for him to fall on his sword (with a sizable severance, and what's left of the force's reputation somewhat intact) leave me cold.