Ontario gunsmith shot and killed by police

[ysyg]

It was the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty who called the inquiry into the Ipperwash events and pulling the strings in Caledonia.

You are right! Point well taken.

[Fisherman]

Well finally some answers. Seems a little extreme on the murder. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/202...sXfz2zg-TG6-tI

[Badenoch]

Well finally some answers. Seems a little extreme on the murder. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/202...sXfz2zg-TG6-tI

Two guns with serial numbers removed is a good reason to investigate but not cause to bring in the flash bangs and the door kickers. This is something that could have been easily addressed with a phone call or a peaceful visit from the CFO. I know from personal experience that government gun records are not always 100 percent accurate.

[js4fn]

The family of a renowned gunsmith who died after officers raided his workshop is suing the Toronto Police Service for $23 million, alleging the"unlawful" act led to Rodger Kotanko's "wrongful death."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...lice-1.6317788

[mosquito]

Another news media:
https://www.simcoereformer.ca/news/l...-civil-lawsuit

* defendants = officers

“The defendants had no reasonable basis for or lawful authority for performing the search warrant upon the premises which results in Rodger’s death,” the statement of claim alleges. “The fashion in which the defendants executed the raid was a gross and negligent misuse of power.”
Highlights of the statement-of-claim, which runs to 32 pages, include:

• The lawsuit alleges there was more than $20,000 in a safe in Kotanko’s workshop at the time of the raid. The statement of claim says the money was missing once Toronto police vacated the scene.
• The lawsuit says Toronto police had Kotanko’s home under surveillance from Nov. 2 until the search warrant was executed around noon the next day. Toronto police allegedly “increased the likelihood that Rodger would be badly injured (or) killed” by allowing him to enter his shop, where there were guns, after returning home from grocery shopping with his wife. Smitiuch wants to know why police did not apprehend Kotanko in his driveway when he pulled in.
• Many want to know the identity of the “alleged customer” who was with Kotanko at the time he was shot. The family says this person – who was unknown to Kotanko – called 10 p.m. the night before to arrange an appointment. Smitiuch says the family has yet to be informed as to the identity of this person. The statement-of-claim alleges police “allowed an alleged customer to be put in harm’s way and potentially interfere with the safe execution of the raid.”
• The statement of claim says the police officers involved “were incompetent to carry out the duties of police officers and lacked the reasonable care, skill, ability and training necessary to perform the duties of a police officer and ought not to have been assuming the responsibilities and obligations of their positions. They had a history of violent, uncontrollable rage and had unlawfully assaulted innocent victims before, for which they were previously disciplined.”
• The statement of claim alleges the officers listed, along with Proctor, “suffered from psychological and/ or psychiatric problems rendering them unfit to be police officers.”
• The statement of claim says Kotanko’s family – as a consequence of the defendants’ actions – has suffered a wide range of psychological symptoms following his death. These include “depression, anxiety, nervousness and irritability, mood disorders, insomnia and sleep disturbances, nightmares and flashbacks.”
• The statement of claim criticizes the defendants for allegedly failing to co-ordinate their action with the Norfolk OPP “when they knew or ought to have known that co-ordination would have been beneficial for planning and tactical reasons and would have minimized the potential for harm to Rodger and the officers involved in the raid.”

The statement of claim has been filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Kotanko’s death is the subject of a probe by the Special Investigations Unit, the civilian agency that investigates police shootings.
Due to that investigation, a Toronto police spokesperson said that, while they have received the statement of claim, it would be inappropriate to comment.

[Birdbuff]

I’ve read that the officer responsible for the shots fired will not speak to the SIU and won’t release his notes. Doesn’t this go against the idea of transparency? How can we expect the system to get better?

[grumpygeezer]

I’ve read that the officer responsible for the shots fired will not speak to the SIU and won’t release his notes. Doesn’t this go against the idea of transparency? How can we expect the system to get better?

It seems the police became judge, jury and executioner. Heads will roll, to what extent will be determined. If I was the one in charge of this operation I would be shaking in my boots right now because life is going to become a lot more difficult.

[Badenoch]

I’ve read that the officer responsible for the shots fired will not speak to the SIU and won’t release his notes. Doesn’t this go against the idea of transparency? How can we expect the system to get better?

Charter rights trump transparency.

[werner.reiche]

Charter rights trump transparency.

That seems to contradict your opinion on vaccinations, doesn't it. You are a very conflicted person.

[Badenoch]

That seems to contradict your opinion on vaccinations, doesn't it. You are a very conflicted person.

There is no conflict whatsoever. There are no Charter rights infringed by any issues related to vaccinations or the lack thereof until which time a court rules on them.