Second police shooting in three days raises questions
by The Canadian Press, Posted Jul 19, 2015 7:34 am PDT, Source
Civil liberties groups in BC are asking questions in the wake of a second police shooting in three days
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Civil liberties groups in BC are asking questions in the wake of a second police shooting in three days.
BC’s police watchdog is investigating the shooting of a distressed man outside the RCMP headquarters in Surrey yesterday morning. The Independent Investigations Office says a struggle ensued and the man was killed and an officer suffered a minor wound.
On Thursday in Dawson Creek a man wearing a mask refused to obey police instructions and was fatally shot.
BC Civil Liberties Association executive director Josh Paterson says police shootings continue to happen even though officers have received more mental health and de-escalation training.
Pivot Legal Society lawyer Doug King says BC’s police community must undergo the same kind of self-reflection that Toronto experienced after 19-year-old Sammy Yatim was shot dead by police. Yatim was holding a knife, but had been isolated on a streetcar when he was shot repeatedly.
King says police techniques seem to escalate very quickly to the use of a firearm. He adds that Tasers can be a more effective tool to disarm someone.