Roy Green - Sun Dec 7 - Canadian Police

Part 2 of segments on policing. Yesterday, questions following policing in the U.S. in the deaths of Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner of New York City.

Today we ask about Canada's police.
Is there a set of rules for police officers and a different set of rules for the rest of us...and if so, is that the way it should be, given the different realities police can encounter while on the job? In Montreal a provincial police officer driving an unmarked cruiser on a non-emergency assignment, with no siren or flashing lights, travelling at 122kmh in a 50kmh zone crashed into a family car killing 5 year old Nicolas Thorne-Belance. Mike Belance, father, had been turning left legally on a green light. The director of the provincial prosecutors office said no charges would be filed against the police officer and seemed to suggest the father of the 5 year old boy bore some responsibility because he was turning left on a solid green (entirely legal) light and not on a priority flashing green light. Public anger caused the Quebec justice minister to review the decision not to charge the police officer.

Meanwhile, Emma Czornobaj, the young woman who stopped for ducks crossing a highway and was found guilty of criminal negligence causing death, for the deaths of two motorcyclists who crashed into her vehicle will be sentenced in a few days (Dec 18). Prosecutors are seeking 9 months in prison.

Was it appropriate the Quebec provincial police officer driving 122kmh in a 50kmh zone wasn't charged for causing the death of a five year old child? The officer was involved in a non-emergency surveillance assignment of a former highly placed member of the Quebec Liberal Party. Meanwhile, Emma Czornobaj will be sentenced in a few days (Dec 18) for stopping for ducks on a Quebec highway, after being found criminally responsible for the deaths of the two motorcyclists who crashed into her car. No charge against the police officer ... criminal conviction against Emma Czornobaj. One set of rules for cops, another for the general public? And is that as it should be?

Also, the Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board, Alok Mukherjee, posted to Facebook comparing the number of Americans killed by ISIS, Ebola and police. The posting, complete with graphics & photographs read: "Americans killed by ISIS: 3. Americans killed by Ebola: 2. Americans killed by the police: 500+ Every year. Just a reminder of who the enemy is in this world." The Toronto Police Association called for Mukherjee's resignation. Mukherjee refused to resign, issuing a statement in which he said he "regrets the reaction" to the posting.

Guest: Scott Newark. Former Executive Officer. Canadian Police Association.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 2 of segments on policing. Yesterday, questions following policing in the U.S. in the deaths of Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner of New York City.

Today we ask about Canada's police.
Is there a set of rules for police officers and a different set of rules for the rest of us...and if so, is that the way it should be, given the different realities police can encounter while on the job? In Montreal a provincial police officer driving an unmarked cruiser on a non-emergency assignment, with no siren or flashing lights, travelling at 122kmh in a 50kmh zone crashed into a family car killing 5 year old Nicolas Thorne-Belance. Mike Belance, father, had been turning left legally on a green light. The director of the provincial prosecutors office said no charges would be filed against the police officer and seemed to suggest the father of the 5 year old boy bore some responsibility because he was turning left on a solid green (entirely legal) light and not on a priority flashing green light. Public anger caused the Quebec justice minister to review the decision not to charge the police officer.

Meanwhile, Emma Czornobaj, the young woman who stopped for ducks crossing a highway and was found guilty of criminal negligence causing death, for the deaths of two motorcyclists who crashed into her vehicle will be sentenced in a few days (Dec 18). Prosecutors are seeking 9 months in prison.

Was it appropriate the Quebec provincial police officer driving 122kmh in a 50kmh zone wasn't charged for causing the death of a five year old child? The officer was involved in a non-emergency surveillance assignment of a former highly placed member of the Quebec Liberal Party. Meanwhile, Emma Czornobaj will be sentenced in a few days (Dec 18) for stopping for ducks on a Quebec highway, after being found criminally responsible for the deaths of the two motorcyclists who crashed into her car. No charge against the police officer ... criminal conviction against Emma Czornobaj. One set of rules for cops, another for the general public? And is that as it should be?

Also, the Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board, Alok Mukherjee, posted to Facebook comparing the number of Americans killed by ISIS, Ebola and police. The posting, complete with graphics & photographs read: "Americans killed by ISIS: 3. Americans killed by Ebola: 2. Americans killed by the police: 500+ Every year. Just a reminder of who the enemy is in this world." The Toronto Police Association called for Mukherjee's resignation. Mukherjee refused to resign, issuing a statement in which he said he "regrets the reaction" to the posting.

Guest: Scott Newark. Former Executive Officer. Canadian Police Association.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.