Thug Canadian cops get off Scot-free

CANADIAN police acted lawfully but fell short of professional expectations in confronting a Polish traveller who died at the airport here after he was stunned with Taser guns, a commission found. Robert Dziekanski, 40, died in late 2007 minutes after four policemen stunned him five times with a Taser and then physically restrained him.

The case caused international shock waves after an amateur video of the violent arrest, after which he fell silent and died, was distributed by news agencies and over the Internet.

The report by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the four officers who confronted Dziekanski "failed to adopt a measured, coordinated and appropriate response," while the senior officer "failed to take charge." "No meaningful attempt was made to de-escalate the situation," said the commission, while "no warning - visual or otherwise - was given to Mr. Dziekanski" before he was hit five times with a stun gun.

Dziekanski was a nervous first-time flyer on his way from Poland to live in Canada with his mother. He spoke only Polish and was reportedly lost for some 10 hours in the secure baggage area of Vancouver's airport. He became distraught when he emerged to find that his mother, who had been waiting outside the secure zone, had left after being told that he was not there.

The use of the Taser was "premature and inappropriate," and after Dziekanski collapsed, police officers at the scene "should have more actively provided first aid and monitored Mr. Dziekanski's condition," the report said.

The commission also found the police investigation of its members was "unbiased (but), it could have been done better," and the report cited concerns over what police told the public about the case.

In a press release, it said it received "more than 100 complaints" on the case from Canadians. The commission presented its 23 findings and 16 recommendations to the police force in October, including the installation of video cameras in body armour worn by officers.

Original report here



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