Edmonton, Alberta (March 5, 2007)
(Edmonton, AB.) Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) has completed its workplace safety investigation in relation to the deaths of four RCMP members in Mayerthorpe, AB in March 2005. The RCMP values the findings of the HRSDC and is actively addressing them. At the direction of the HRSDC, the RCMP has provided enhanced body armour as protection to minimize risk from long gun threats for members of Mayerthorpe Detachment, to the satisfaction of HRSDC. The RCMP continues to take seriously the issue of officer safety.
On March 3, 2005, Constables Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, and Peter Schiemann were fatally shot while assisting in a criminal investigation on the property of James Roszko near Mayerthorpe, AB. James Roszko fatally shot the four RCMP members before taking his own life.
Since that day, several initiatives have been ongoing to find answers and determine appropriate responses. One of these was the investigation by HRSDC, a standard requirement in cases of workplace fatalities. Their work was aided by information provided by the RCMP Hazardous Occurrence Investigation Team.
In addition to the directive concerning enhanced body armour, HRSDC has made three recommendations:
that RCMP in Alberta provide enhanced body armour to members in all detachments;
that RCMP “K” Division examine its portable radio communications capability and the coverage that is afforded in the province of Alberta; and
that RCMP in Alberta obtain night vision technology for detachment members working on night shifts.
With respect to the first recommendation, the RCMP has been working toward body armour enhancements for some time and is in the process of identifying and evaluating a variety of possibilities to provide protection against long gun fire. Research into body armour enhancements is ongoing and no decisions have been made at this time.
While radio communications at Mayerthorpe were not identified as a problem, the issue did surface as part of the investigational process. The RCMP and the Government of Alberta are actively exploring options for a new First Responders’ Radio System to replace the current one.
In 2006, RCMP "K" Division distributed a number of night vision devices to Alberta detachments, and this will continue in 2007. The RCMP has also approved enhanced night vision equipment for specialized units, such as Emergency Response Teams. These teams provide assistance throughout the province in support of operational members. For officer safety, the RCMP cannot publicly discuss its night vision technology.
The HRSDC investigation included recommendations from a “K” Division Hazardous Occurrence Investigating Team (HOIT) that was established in response to requirements under the Canada Labour Code. In December 2006, HOIT submitted a report to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) concerning the events that took place near Mayerthorpe on March 3, 2005.
In its report, HOIT made several key recommendations:
1.
Resources -
It is recommended that the RCMP apply the principles of the National Resourcing program in contract Divisions.
2.
Personal Protective Equipment - Soft Body Armour
It is recommended that the recommendation of the Material Design and Specifications Unit should be adopted nationally. The specific recommendation is:
AThat the RCMP adopt a rifle plate for use by general duty members to provide protection against most rifle threats up to and including Aarmour-piercing@ types.@
3.
Higher level ballistic protection -
It is recommended that members should be given the option to choose to wear a higher level of ballistic protection when they feel the threat warrants it.
4.
Policy Regarding the Use of Soft Body Armour
It is recommended that direction similar to the following existing AK@ Division policy be developed and introduced nationally:
KOM 1.2.C.1.
“All members shall wear sidearms when on duty unless they are employed on full time clerical or identification duties. An RM or S/Cst. member on plainclothes duty will wear clothing and personal protective equipment deemed appropriate by the commander for such duties. Plain clothes members must have access to all intervention equipment available to members in uniform.”
5.
Radio Communications -
It is recommended that, when designing future portable radio coverage systems, every effort should be made to expand coverage to allow members, while out of their vehicles, to call for emergency assistance, from wherever they may be in “K” Division.
6.
Behavioural Sciences Group -
It is recommended that the ability to have threat assessments conducted by behavioural sciences group is important for public and officer safety and should be a consistent process nationally.
7.
Equipment - Night Vision -
It is recommended that consideration should be given nationally to providing night vision equipment to operational units.
8.
Maintenance of Operational Intelligence Files -
It is recommended that the RCMP consider the practicality, on a national basis, of identifying and putting into use a system that ensures chronic, dangerous career criminals like Roszko, are subject of an updated, inclusive and ongoing operational intelligence file to be maintained at the detachment wherein the subject lives.
9.
Re-qualification Frequency on Firearms -
It is recommended that the RCMP encourage members to practice shooting more often and that the RCMP consider means by which the frequency of re-qualifications can be augmented.
RCMP "K" Division senior management is actively reviewing all of the recommendations stemming from this report and, in some cases, strategies are already in the process of being implemented to address some aspects of the recommendations as part of our ongoing improvement process.
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Media contact:
Wayne A. Oakes, Cpl.
Media Relations Officer
RCMP "K" Division
(780) 412- 5260
