A police chief explained on Monday that in 2020 killings in Nova Scotia, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) did not ask him for reinforcements, although his police were trained to respond to “active shooters” and were among those closest to the tragedy.
Leader Dave MacNeilof the Truro Police Service, told the public inquiry that normal protocol for police officers to RCMP a nearby detachment would have asked for help before sending one of its 36 agents.
Three Truro policemen were on duty on the night of April 18 when the shooting began around 10 pm in Portapique, 40 kilometers to the west. But the leader MacNeil A commission prosecutor was told that the killer, who was riding in a replica patrol vehicle, continued his killings for 13 hours without RCMP asking him to provide reinforcements.
The investigation found that four RCMP officers from Colchester, the rural county surrounding Truro, was the first to respond to the first shots in Portapique. By the time reinforcements arrived from other RCMP detachments, around 10:45 pm, the killer had left the area by a small side of the road.
Leader MacNeil insisted on Monday that if his police force was called, he would certainly call the police if necessary. He explained that his officers are trained to respond to active shooting scenarios, have rifles in their vehicles and are trained to use them.
The veteran police officer also said Monday that when he contacted the Chief Superintendent of RCMP Chris Leather at 9:50 am on April 19 to offer assistance, the officer replied via email as if the suspect stuck in Wentworth. In fact, the shoot is not stuck there and for the next half hour, he passed through Truro unidentified.
According to the summary provided by the Public Inquiry Commission, on Monday the gunman entered Truro around 10:11 a.m. Sunday and left nine minutes later, passing within a few blocks of two local police officers. We learned that over an hour ago, Truro police received descriptions of what to watch out for.
The document points out that Corporal Edwin Cormier, of the municipal police, was on duty at the time, supervising the three officers.
It was also learned that RCMP Staff Sergeant Bruce Briers contacted Corporal Cormier to inform him that the killer was in a fully branded and newer model (…) that looks like Ford, similar to an RCMP vehicle. At that time, the call number was also broadcast on the side of the car.
At 8:51 am, Mr. Cormier radioed all officers on his shift and gave them the updated information he had received.
During the cross-examination, the union lawyer representing RCMP members asked Chief MacNeil why a senior official was not called in the early hours of Saturday night after city police received three notices warning that an armed and dangerous suspect was involved in the active hunt.
National Police Federation lawyer Nasha Nijhawan said the opinions of RCMP provided lots of informationbut. MacNeil responded that these notices did not tell Truro Police what danger exactly existed for the town itself. He objected to the lawyer’s suggestion that Truro should have been better prepared.
He felt there should be many catastrophic failures to shoot, Gabriel Wortmancould travel to Truro from the scene of three of his murders on Sunday morning in Wentworth. For you to suggest now that we should cordon off the city: yes, well … in retrospect. But probably a lot of things went wrong for this year to get from Wentworth to Truro.
A dispatcher from RCMP later called Truro police asking them to cordon off the town, but then Wortman was on his way to Halifax.
Furthermore, the audio transcripts indicate confusion on the part of the Truro police about what exactly this means. cordon the city. In a conversation with Corporal Cormier, the RCMP dispatch supervisor, Kristen Bagleeit seems difficult to answer the questions. Uh, when you say buckle up, what do you mean?Mr. asked. Cormier.
Well, I don’t know if you need to, uh, maybe you can make some, some roadblocks on the main roadMs. replied. baglee.
the inspector Darrin Smithof Truro Police, also spoke to Ms. bagleewho confirmed that the replica of the vehicle seen in a photo transmitted earlier was full of weapons.
He then mentioned, as he did with Corporal Cormier, that the suspect may also have been driving a white Ford pickup truck that was seen leaving the area. glenholme. Lord. Smith radioing the information to all his colleagues in Truro.
In an interview as part of the investigation, Mr. Smith he said he was confused by the information from RCMP and at his request to imprison the city. He thought at that time that the response was uncoordinated and that the request was motivated by the simple need to make a way in panic. It goes everywhere, so to speak.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
