What an incredibly dangerous precedent

I’d have to say I’m a bit concerned with a recent decision in Quebec by a jury in what USED to be a capital murder offence. The case was the trial of a man for killing a police officer during a botched drug raid. Two officers were actually shot in the raid by this man, one died. The accused was charged with 1st degree murder, attempted murder, and drugs and weapons charges. With last weeks decision, all were acquittals or dropped by the crown. Upon hearing this on the radio, my mouth also dropped in shock. Here we have a dead officer, a maimed officer and the general public and police community in shock at the verdict.

What was it? Well, from media accounts, it was a dynamic entry of a SWAT team into a house executing a search warrant. In a dynamic entry, no announcement is made by the entry officers. Sometimes explosive or distractionary devices are used to surprise any occupants and prevent them from destroying evidence or escaping before an arrest can be made.

In this case, upon entry, the officers were faced with gunfire from the drug dealing occupant. In the trial, the defence argued that the defendant did not know the entry officers were police, thinking he was being robbed of his drugs and shot the officers as a result. The jury BELIEVED this argument and acquitted him of murder. Also, the trial judge ruled in camera that the search warrant was not valid. This however was not revealed to the jurors, who decided on their own. This decision sets an incredible precedent to any criminal — indicating they can shoot anyone entering their home, including police. I just don’t buy the argument that the accused did not realize the person entering his home was an officer until after he was on the ground, that is incredible. Also what is incredible, is that this man survived the ensuing entry team. I’m surprised there wasn’t just a fatality inquiry rather than a trial for this cop-killer.

To the crown, please please please appeal this case to the Supreme Court of Canada. We need to vindicate justice, if at least for the sake of the officer’s family. No one should be allowed to shoot a cop in ANY circumstance.

Hiatus

I apologize for the lack of posts lately as things have been relatively busy.  I recently moved my family across the country, to join a different police service for reasons of being closer to home.  It was a big leap to make after being settled in one job, city and lifestyle, only to start a job with a new organization, sell a house (well, not yet) and move everything you own 5,000 kilometres.

The new employer is great.  One good thing I realized before I left my last job was that policing is the same everywhere, just a bit bigger or smaller depending on where you find yourself.  Each place has the same type of calls, same type of people (perhaps with different accents), but generally, its the same.   So, in moving, I understood this and was able to handle the transition.  Of course, in every department, the paper work and surroundings are different — so I’m still getting used to that.  So here’s to the same career in a new place!