The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was investigating two officers from the Vancouver Police Department who fired their less lethal weapons at two protesters on February 19 in Ottawa during the truckers’ protest.
The director ofSIUJoseph Martino, believes that the two Vancouver Police Department officers committed no criminal offense by using their riot weapons, the Anti-riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN).
Officers from the Vancouver Police Department were in Ottawa at the time to help police the three-week-long protests in the downtown area of the federal capital.
In the file handed over to theSIUthe officers involved were part of an operation to control the crowd on the street bank. Weapons were discharged at two men, one 36 and the other 41, but no serious injuries were reported. The incident took place at the corner of the streets bank and Sparks.
I am satisfied that the officers involved exercised, at a minimum, a reasonable and lawful exercise of police powers in common law to maintain public order and safetyanalyzes Mr. Martino in his report. I am also satisfied that the force used by the officers – the deployment of their less lethal weapons – was legally justified.
The head of the government agency therefore concludes that there is no no reasonable grounds to believe that either of the officers involved acted unlawfully in shooting the men with their less-lethal weapons.
He therefore decided to close the case and not to bring any charges in this case.
Recall that theSIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officers – police officers, Niagara Parks Commission special constables and Legislative Security Service peace officers – that may have resulted in a death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm against a person.
All of its investigations are conducted by investigators who are civilians.
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
