Calgary police taking steps to deter deadly encounters: Criminologist

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Tactics used by Calgary police in a deadly officer-involved shooting show the service is taking steps to reduce the number of fatal encounters, says a local criminologist.

Officers involved in Friday’s shooting first used a less-lethal ARWEN launcher — a weapon that shoots a plastic round — in an attempt to deter the man before opening fire with a service pistol. It was the first time the incapacitating weapon has been used by a frontline officer in Calgary, a key recommendation from a sweeping use of force report released earlier this year.

Mount Royal University criminologist Kelly Sundberg said while the result was heartbreaking, the tactics employed by officers show the service is taking steps to reduce the number of officer-involved shootings.

“Calgary police has been taking meaningful and important steps towards better equipping their officers to deal with mental health and mental illness challenges,” said Sundberg.

“I do think they are doing great steps, but there is more room to grow. If a person with mental illness’ … behaviour becomes a danger to the officers, to the person themselves, the public, the unfortunate thing is, the officer needs to use force.

“De-escalation and other techniques are not going to work every time and it’s important for the public to understand that police are ensuring public safety.”

The incident began Thursday night when police were called to a northeast gym after reports of an altercation. The man who was eventually killed by police was seen circling the gym for hours before driving dangerously back to his Redstone home.

Believing the man was suffering from a mental health crisis, officials said, officers disengaged the man with plans to return the next day, towing his vehicle around 2:20 a.m. Friday morning.

Less than an hour and a half later, police returned to his residence for a noise complaint before they encountered him near the intersection of Redstone Drive and Redstone Street N.E.

The situation escalated, police said Friday, and officers tried to deter the man with a less-lethal ARWEN launcher before a service pistol was fired. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the shooting and police said knives were recovered from the scene.

“The fact that the officers used the ARWEN initially … they tried to use less-lethal means for obtaining control of that subject,” Sundberg said.

“I have no question Calgary police officers are very well trained. It says a lot that the officers did try to use alternate means initially. It’s important for people to understand that when there are use of force instances … there is a risk that there could be a death.

Through August, Calgary police have shot and killed four civilians this year.

Officials continue to investigate the death of a fifth man, who exchanged gunfire with police in Abbeydale on March 27. The confrontation left Const. Jordan Forget injured from a gunshot wound. Calgary police said after the incident one suspect was found deceased and ASIRT said a body was found in a burned-out garage.

This year’s tally is nearing that of 2016, when five lives were claimed in 10 officer-involved shootings, prompting an independent use of force report.

The report, authored by retired Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Neil Wittmann, offered 65 recommendations to deal with potentially dangerous situations, including a better understanding of mental health, an emphasis on de-escalation training and improved oversight.

It led Calgary police to implement less-lethal ARWEN rounds for frontline officers.

“I know we at the university and in our public safety and security research group have had increased communication with members of the police service looking at possibilities in the future and that’s very reassuring,” said Sundberg.

“It goes to Wittmann’s report that he wanted to see police building bridges with academia and finding ways it can approach the other sides of the policing world.

“I don’t think we should be jumping to conclusions with regards to the unfortunate seeming frequency of these types of events.”

Mike Lomore, executive director of the Calgary Police Association, said they have been in contact with the officers involved and support resources have been made available.

“We were with them yesterday (Friday) morning … they seemed to be in good spirits,” he said, adding it has taken a physical and mental toll on the officers.

The officers involved in the shooting have been put on 30-day administrative leave, which is standard practice when lethal force is used.

With files from Ryan Rumbolt

zlaing@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @zjlaing