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Critics see Mountie contradictions in Taser video
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Thu. Nov. 15 2007 11:03 PM ET
Critics took aim at the RCMP Thursday in the wake of a new video showing a man die after he was Tasered by Mounties last month.
Amnesty International says it wants a full investigation into what happened after Polish national Robert Dziekanski arrived at Vancouver International Airport on Oct. 14.
Dziekanski was held in a secure area of the airport for nearly 10 hours. He became agitated and frustrated and airport security called police.
A video by a witness shows him throwing a chair at a glass wall and yelling. But by the time police arrived, the video also shows that Dziekanski had appeared to have calmed down.
"For me, it (the video) raises a lot of questions as to how decisions were made going into that incident because what you appear to see is that they show up and move to Taser somebody,'' Hilary Homes of Amnesty International said.
In the video, Dziekanski backs away from police and raises his arms, as if to capitulate to the officers.
But within seconds he was zapped with a Taser, an electric stun gun. He flails in pain, is pinned by the officers, appears to have been Tasered again, and passes out. He later died.
The events on the video appear to contradict what the RCMP said about the event a day after it occurred, before the video was seen by the public.
"They found the man in the secure area with his luggage cart and chairs set around him," said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Pierre Lemaitre right after Dziekanski's death.
"They tried to do the same thing, communicate with him. Chairs went flying, he grabbed the computer off a desk and threw that. They weren't getting through to this guy and the violence, again, escalating."
But in the video, the RCMP are no where to be seen when the chair is thrown. They had not yet arrived on the scene.
At no time on the video does Dziekanski grab a computer when the police are there. He had picked one up and then set it back down earlier in the video, but that was well before police had arrived.
When they do arrive, Dziekanski appears to be calm. He backs away and appears to be in the process of handing himself over to police when he is Tasered, a mere thirty seconds after police arrive.
Amnesty International wants all police departments to stop using Tasers until they have been thoroughly studied.
A professor of ethics says the RCMP will now have to work hard to win back public trust.
"Those who are involved are going to have to give a clearer account of what occurred than that at the present seems to be what's forthcoming," said Mark Wexler of Simon Fraser University.
He added that there will have to be a "stronger emphasis upon training (and) de-emphasis on keeping the public out of the way."
Police reaction
On Thursday, police said they believed the information they gave after the incident was accurate to the best of their knowledge. They had no further comment.
Earlier, Cpl. Dale Carr, a spokesperson for the RCMP, said judgment should not be cast until all the information has been gathered.
"Our reaction is that our testimony will come out at the coroner's inquest and it will offer perspective on what the police officers were going through and what all the other witnesses were going through at the time and they'll be testifying under oath," Carr told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday.
He said a much more complete picture will develop as the result of the police investigation, which is still ongoing, and a coroner's inquest that will probe the circumstances of Dziekanski's death.
Emergency radio logs leaked to CTV British Columbia show a 12-minute gap from when Dziekanski lost consciousness and when B.C. Ambulance arrived.
The airport has its own paramedics who could have been at the scene within two minutes, but the airport supervisor did not call them, CTV British Columbia reported.
For reasons that are still not clear, it took 10 hours for Dziekanski to clear customs. He and his mother never connected, and she left the airport to return to Kamloops.
The Polish government has called for a full probe of the tragedy.
Paul Pritchard, the witness who taped the incident on his video camera, told Canada AM on Thursday that Dziekanski appeared scared and seeking help when police arrived. He said he never felt threatened by the man.
"He was acting irrationally, but in my opinion he was acting scared," Pritchard said.
He said Dziekanski even put his arms out in a gesture of defeat and showed no signs he was going to resist arrest.
He said the four officers seemed intent on using a Taser despite Dziekanski's apparent willingness to surrender. The situation escalated quickly once they did.
"It became a real situation all of a sudden. I was just filming for the sake of an entertainment standpoint, but once they Tasered him you heard this bloodcurdling scream. I still think about it," Pritchard said.
Another cellphone video of the fatal confrontation had been released previously but this latest video is of much higher quality.
Other witnesses also said they didn't feel threatened by Dziekanski.
The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has filed its own complaint about the case. The RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is also investigating the incident.
Liberals call for national review of Tasers
During Thursday's question period, public safety minister Stockwell Day said in addition to the coroner's inquest and two police reviews, he has also ordered a review. He did not give details of what type of review it would be, how it would be conducted, or who would conduct it.
The Liberals said nothing short of formal national review of Taser use by police officers is required. The party's public safety critic, Ujjal Dosanjh, said in a press release that the review should be commenced in light of Dziekanski's death "and the release of video of that incident."
"While we understand the need of law enforcement to be able to subdue suspects in dangerous situations, Mr. Dziekanski's tragic death and other incidents have led to questions about whether Tasers are being used appropriately," said Dosanjh.
Dosanjh said the government must appoint an appropriate body to look into Taser use and consequences. He suggested that the RCMP Public Complaints Commission may look into the matter. It's already investigating the Dziekanski death.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said he hasn't seen the Dziekanski video and stopped short of calling for an outright ban of Tasers. But he said he wants the RCMP to review its use of the weapon.
A Mother's Reaction
The mother of a Polish immigrant who died after RCMP officers used a Taser on him can't understand why police didn't simply arrest her son before using force.
Walter Kosteckyj, the lawyer for Zofia Cisowski, said his client was stunned after watching a video of the confrontation that resulted in her son's death.
"Her position is basically this: 'I see my son lost, looking for help. When he sees the police he's calling out for them, I tried to get help, he tried to get help and this is the way things have ended up.'"
Kosteckyj said his client doesn't understand why police apparently acted with such force. He said the four officers arrived on the scene and headed straight to the suspect without securing the scene, asking questions or getting background, or even moving a nearby witness -- steps he suggested could have resulted in a peaceful end to the confrontation.
Dziekanski will be buried on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Kamloops.
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.


Comments are now closed for this story
marj ursel
said
Margaret
said
This is sickening.
Mishie
said
charles
said
Madeline
said
Robert
said
Robert.
Scott
said
Steven
said
noel
said
Arthur
said
ASIA
said
Newfie1030
said
Matt
said
Trent
said
JDM
said
Customs and Immigration failed to observe basic decencies by failing to provide an interpreter and by failing to contact his mother. No one should ever be forced to endure 10 hours unable to communicate with officials. In a country as multi-cultural as Canada, this is an outrage.
Although the police obviously need to be investigated and disciplined for the needless use of the taser, the situation should never have reached this point.
Any investigation of this incident should not only include the police action, but also the lack of action on the part of Customs and Immigration.
Dave
said
Dave
said
D
MC
said
Thurston T
said
The man was acting in a violent manner. He may have APPEARED to have calmed down for a moment however it seems all those who view this tape believe the mounties should risk injury to themselves so that this man be placed in custody. I think everyone including all Monday morning quarterbacks in the media should wait for the inquiry.
Bob
said
Marie
said
Yes he was acting violently yet the means used to subdue him were not appropriate to the threat he posed. Tasers, mace, and firearms are only to be used in instances where the officer believes that no other options exist from stopping someone who is an extreme danger to them or the public (according to police procedure training manuals). This was not the case as the six officers could have controlled him otherwise.
Trent
said
Maureen
said
Dave G
said
Let's face it, the guy went bananas. For all of those who are second guessing the cops having had weeks to think about it, ask yourselves... would you have confronted the man yourself? Probably not, out of fear. He was throwing furniture, barricaded himself in a room and at one point was using a TV tray as a defensive prop.
The taser is a less-than-lethal tool that has actually saved lives when, instead of a taser a gun would have had to be used.
andy
said
Nancy
said
The officers made no attempt to calm the guy down or try to talk to him, they went straight to the taser. They didn't even do CPR to try to revive him!! What they did is UNACCEPTABLE and it made me sick to my stomach.
Lisa C
said
I am very sorry for this loss of this son, however the needs of the many appear to have outweighed the needs of the one in this event.
Steve
said
Lorie
said
Jeff Langille
said
Terry G
said
Joon
said
Anyone who has flown - especially for the first time on a plane - knows how completely worn out you can be mentally and physically. And being surrounded by people who cannot cannot communicate with you because they do not speak your language. TEN HOURS in the airport - that is unacceptable.
Had he eaten or had a drink during that time?
How would we feel if a fellow Canadian had exactly the same thing happen in an airport in Poland?
Maybe this man's death will not be in vain and policies will be changed.
...and thank goodness that man took the video so that there can be no question about what happened.
Nicole C.
said
They were not in "immediate danger", as the man was in an enclosed space, and they had him surrounded. I hope these officers look at this man's mother and never forget the pain that is on her face from losing her son.
Cheryl
said
Rob Stone
said
Paul
said
jim
said
Craig
said
Martin Derks
said
MikeLondon
said
Kellie
said
Annette
said
Sarah
said
Jeff
said
Sean
said
All the same, his throwing the chair was a bit much.
Ottawa Man
said
Mario
said
R. S.
said
Jim
said
Courtney
said
Mattao
said
EasternEurope
said
The trip is long, always two flights or more, long waiting times before, inbetween and after the flights.
It could be travelling for more than 20 hours from my home to my parents home.
You don't sleep and arrive in a state of fatigue close to coma.
Add to that 10 hours of extra waiting and you will have an idea of what Robert Dziekanski was going through.
It could have been my grandfather who doesn't speak english or french and comes to visit me, what then? Or my mather who comes because I have sponsored her?
Everybody in the airport is guilty of this tragedy, immigration, police, any airport clerk who saw that man in distress and didn't try to help.
Nicole
said
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Robert Dziekanski today. What a tragedy.
Andy in Cambridge
said
Jacqueline
said
JMA
said
Darren Macklin
said
Ray
said
Melinda
said
Matt
said
Theres no excuse for using a weapon on somebody in a 6 on one situation, even a usually non lethal weapon..
dan donoso
said
I unfortunately know how the police are trained. They are trained to act in the manner they did, we should really stop pointing fingers at the individuals and start thinking about proper training.
Mike Webster
said
Zand
said
Yes the police have to do their job. Yes, they are protecting other passengers and employees. No it isn't necessary to taser someone.
Many people have commented that, "How do you know he wasn't carrying a weapon?" Security check prior to boarding airplane in Poland? Check. Detained for ten hours in Canadian Customs with, most likely, a secondary security check? Check. Tasered for the inability to communicate effectively with security and customs officials? Why should we accept that as part of the norm?
I hated that three and a half hours at the Buffalo boarder, and I told them so! But thankfully I didn't get tasered for it.
Jim Hagen
said
Why was he being held by immigration and. Again the public are without hearing all the details coming down on the RCMP. The media are lovin' this story!
Clare Childerhose
said
MD
said
Robert Schuster
said
I can honestly say after watching this event unfold, this death was absolutely preventable.
...
Regarding another viewers comment about the police not rendering or helping this man with first aid immediately once they realized something was terribly wrong is imo appalling at a minumum and a disgrace for every officer in uniform who has taken an oath to serve and protect.
Marc
said
1. The airport for failing to deal with the situation when they saw that he was becoming agitated. They should have defused this situation through interpreter long before it got to this.
2. This man, no matter how long he was waiting, was out of control. I have waited longer periods in foreign airports and didn't become anything like this. People have to know what behavior is acceptable, and understand there will be consequences for acting this way. I dont think we would get treated very well in most countries for this behavior.
3. The bleeding heart armchair authorities who are police bashing. If you were there you probably would have done nothing but look in shock at the man and say that something should be done, but you are first in line to pity this out of control individual, and point fingers at the people who protect us and put (and lose)thier lives on the line for us. You were not in the situation, you cannot judge this. Your well being and possibly your life was not in danger, and you were not there to protect the public.
Steve
said
Craig
said
The video clearly showed Dziekanski acting violently and irrationally while a woman tries to calm him down. He reacts by throwing a table at her. The RCMP arrive and surround him, Dziekanski throws his arms up and makes a motion to leave and the mounties use tasers to subdue him.
Why not put the blame on Dziekanski? If he didn't act up when he was upset, he would still be alive. I frequently get a little frustrated at the airport but I don't resort to throwing computers. Why didn't he ask for help or assistance. Why did he wait in the same place for 10 hours.
kamil
said
Martin
said
Brad
said
Chelsa
said
Kenny Cursoe
said
These cops get paid for doing a dangerous job. If one gets hurt in an altercation, that's just a day at work. If you can't handle the danger get out of the job. The guy just went through security, obviously had no weapons!!!!! Minimal if any injury would occur to these officers.
At least they deserve to be suspended until the investigation is done.... Ha another joke! How many of you people out there get suspended WITH pay?
Also Steven
said
Oh, but I think they do. Is it not possible to think of someone who would barricade themselves or throw something without the intent of hurting others? Surely, if I were in an airport and wanted to hit someone with some object, it would be easy to do.
But, were the RCMP officers' actions reasonable for the situation? The courts will find out.
Kelly
said
Carey
said
It was an emotionally exhausting time, we had moved to Canada to live, knowing that we would never go back to South Africa.
The one advantage we had was that we could speak English and we had travelled internationally.
My Father too went through an agonizing wait at Vancouver airport. He had driven all the way from Cranbrook BC and too was hoping to drive us back to Cranbrook to show us the beautiful scenery.
Our flight was delayed and my Father waited for six hours at the airport. He approached immigration officials on numerous occasions and they kept telling him to wait. He asked if they could please go and check if we were in the immigration office. The staff supposedly looked and told him that we had not arrived. My Father was terrified! He had rented a limousine and driver for our grand arrival and we didn’t show up – it was awful.
After six hours he decided to go back to the hotel and start investigating. Luckily, we were released from immigration half an hour later and some generous citizen gave us a Toonie to call my Dad from a pay phone.
My heart broke when I saw the story about Robert Dziekanski and his mother. They too had come to Canada because it is a first world country with laws that makes is a safe country… What were the RCMP and immigration staff thinking? It was obvious that the man was frustrated and couldn’t speak English; his life could have been saved if the police had not been so trigger happy and called for an interpreter.
I also feel anger toward the staff of the Immigration officials, a simple act of kindness – taking a few steps could have saved Robert’s life. I hope the immigration department is also investigated. I thought waiting areas would be monitored by surveillance? Why did no one notice that he was missing in the second phase of checking in for landed immigrants?
Mrs. Dziekanski, know that a fellow immigrant’s heart goes out to you!
bryan
said
Evan R
said
Earl Stopera
said
Jason
said
Alex
said
His nerves just gave up.
Strumf
said
Shame on you Vancouver.
Chris M
said
Laura Lee (Saudi Arabia)
said
Gabriel DG
said
How much more obvious could it be that they were just itching to pull that trigger? How can one reasonably explaining tasering a man a second time after he has already been confined to handcuffs?
francesa
said
Robert L
said
CW
said
Mark
said
Yes, the RCMP should do their job -- but they didn't do their job properly.
While the guy did some wrong being violent, please imagine being a person expecting to see Mom right away, but got delayed in customs 10 hours, then let into the airport with no help, then being immediately attacked by the police after he tried to surrender to the police. RCMP are great people but something royally screwed up in this instance.
LM
said
DerekA
said
Rod
said
John from Vancouver
said
Paul
said
-they were in the room with him for 24 seconds before they tasered him?
-no attempts to find someone to communicate with him
-no time taken to look for a non violent resolution
Even if he hadn't died how can you say that is fair treatment? If you were in a new country and incapable of communicating with anyone would you feel that this is justified?
Wendy
said
Gustavo
said
Cory
said
Also i think tasers are a great alternative to having to shoot someone and a great tool for police, I also think the police are getting a little too quick on the draw with them since they are less than lethal.
Kim
said
What people have to understand is the police did not know anything about this man's situation at the time of the incident. All they knew was there as a large, violent man, throwing chairs and smashing computers.
A tazer causes no injuries, but physically attempting to arrest a large man can be extremely dangerous for the man and the police.
It is sad and unfortunate what happened but I think the police did what they thought was the safest and appropriate course of action.
We can't make police afraid to do their job or our society will be overrun by criminals.
susan
said
Not only was I horrified at the 'help' that Mr.Dziekanski and his mother received from both the RCMP and Vancouver Airport Authorities, my 14 year old son was equally mortified and visibly shaken. Even he questioned the lack of interpreters with the RCMP. "Can they do that, mom?".
Short answer, no! Do they? Apparently! Will their behaviour make people think twice about asking for help and trusting that they will get the help they need? Probably!
I believe the country of Canada, Vancouver Airport Authority and our Royal Canadian Mounted Police owe the late Robert Dziekanski, and his bereaved mother an unquestionable apology.
Paul
said
He was probably frustrated with everything and that frustration would have been multiplied due to the language problem.
Dan
said
I guess the shoot first, ask questions later modo is still in full swing here in Canada.
Kathy
said
Mike
said
Dutch immigrant
said
Carter
said
I guess it's because you see the take-down on videotape that, of course, you all know what happened. Never mind that these kind of take downs happen all the time.
Do any of you know what involves subduing a man without a taser? What risks are involved? How things can go wrong, when facing someone who is demonstrating that they are prepared to be violent? (I can think of one such thing: guy bites you and you now have hepatitis. I can think of other scenarios, but I'll leave that out for now.) Have any of you had to do such a thing?
Scott M
said
The presumption has not been that the RCMP acted reasonably but that an investigation will disclose if there were problems. No, the opposite is true.
If you watch the video it is clear this man was not of a right mind. Yet, we ask that the RCMP expose themselves to his violence instead of using the Taser
Why is this man's conduct not being questioned seeing as he is not a citizen and was here by "invitation" so to speak?
Once again, we as a country roll over on our values to fall on the sword of apology for our actions.
Rob
said
Mike
said
Jeff
said
angie
said
M. Elaine Karras
said
Please back off the sensational reporting as it makes life very difficult for all involved.
Where was this man's family? How can he have been in the air port for 10 hours? Who was responsible for his dilemma? Any one who has spent even 2 hours waiting, it seems about 10 times longer.
Courtney
said
L
said
OD
said
How about taking a look at his passport and figuring out where he was coming from, than ask if there is a person that speaks that language?
Nobody tried to resuscitate the guy. Nobody called the paramedics. He is dead? Fine, mission accomplished. He's not from North America so nobody will sue, right?
The guy was acting irrationally, but who would not after 10 hours of waiting? He clearly was not going to kill or injure anybody; he was just trying to draw attention.
John
said
Blake
said
Tracy
said
He was obviously very afraid, you could see it in his eyes. Why do 4 officers already holding someone down need to jolt him more than once?
Cameron
said
immigrant
said
My story is: I was coming to Toronto from Eastern Europe and my appearance was not too Canadian (my face was not shaved and I was standing too close to the next person in line to passport/visa control). So, they asked me to go to immigration office, where they took all my documents and I was told to answer personal questions about myself (birth date, date when I first had come to Canada, where did I work, my address and so on). It took them not long to identify my personality (since I could speak some English). If I were not able to speak English/French, I could have spent hours without my papers waiting for something.
P.S. personal space (distance to the next person) is different in different cultures
Tom
said
Another MD
said
MGM
said
Brad Stephan
said
Dean
said
James
said
Further, since when is it the police's responsibilty to have interpretors available for people they are looking to quesions or incarcerate.
Did the man's mother ask immegration for help to locate her son? Why would she just simply leave the airport?
Too many unknown factors here to point fingers already?
Diane Walle
said
L.Hamilton
said
Answer: 6 RCMP plus a taser apparently. Shameful. Sickening and shameful. And although the airport administration said he wasn't embarrased by the incident or by the obvious incompetence of his airport staff and the border staff...I, as a natural born Canadian citizen sure am embarrassed.How would any of us feel or act in the same circumstances in his country? I guess we'd be arrogant.
Mohamed Bakr
said
Paul F.
said
Ryan
said
adam
said
Shane
said
Michael
said
Steven
said
Jacek
said
Jeff
said
anonymous
said
Mark G.
said
CLS
said
MD
said
Maybe its time to re-visit the policies and protocols that govern these agencies. Incorporate some compassion and decency. Have interpreters and refreshments available. If your standard policy is to detain for an indefinite period of time, offer a snack, periodic bathroom breaks. They are not barnyard animals. They are human beings.
John Schertzer
said
dave
said
This kind of action by the police will only result in more animosity from the public escalating to the point where normally law abiding citizens will start protecting themselves by any means from the police for fear of being abused.
Craig C
said
Ron Tanguay
said
WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD
said
Carol
said
They are taught how to negotiate and control people without this form of control --totally not necessary. The man was not armed with any weapons. This is an awful reputation for tourists/visitors to Canada.
The Vancouver airport authorities should be investigated for lack of assistance to the man. Why was he allowed to be in that area for so long? They knew he arrived from Poland what were they thinking? No interpretor etc.
John
said
jon
said
Wrong. Police used to be well trained for incidents like this. Subduing someone by hand is dangerous, and so the first resort used to be discussion and persuasion. Now, the first resort appears to be using the "non-lethal" device you've been issued to bring the situation to a close quickly, and you pull a Taser. It's pretty obvious some people react very badly to being electrocuted, and they don't have a label on their foreheads. Just as you wouldn't shoot someone who is causing a disturbance with a pistol right after walking up to them, it seems obvious we shouldn't be immediately shooting them with a Taser either. Make the Taser something other than the first choice for police officers, before a lot of other people die because of it.
Liz
said
andrimitum
said
Mark G
said
ThomasChan
said
brett
said
Bevin
said
"Craig C
I cannot believe the various people here defending the police. Do you all have vision problems or what. The guy was in a room for 10 hours, no food , no water, no communcation and somehow some of you think it is reasonable to taser a guy, not once but twice and put your knee on his neck to boot. The guy was down for the count and they taser him again then climb on top of the guy. Nice work guys!! Give your heads a shake will you. That guy did not deserve what happened to him, I think 4 big cops were more than a match for this poor guy. It strikes me as interesting that the first thing out of the cops mouth is can I use my taser. "
REBUTTAL - no Craig C, this guy was not in a room for 10 hours. you need to research this story before you start pointing fingers. If any of you are familiar with the International arrival areas of YVR you will know that yes, he was in what is supposed to be a "secure " area. but all it is the area where you drop off your luggage AFTER you have left the customs restricted area for connnecting flights. There is supposed to be agents from various airlines there, but at midnight, there are none. There is a glass door that swings open and allows entry to the greeting area next to the Elephant and Castle Restaurant. Even though you are supposed to not be able to return to the so called area, you can. And apparently no one stopped him from re-entering or remaining there. Therfore, the police have to treat him as high risk based on the fact that he is clearly displaying aggression and violent behaviour and the unkown poccibility of him being armed. We need to look at this for what it is - a tragic death. But in the end the officers have a RIGHT to be protected too doing a job that so many are quick to criticize but few are willing to do.
sal
said
Linda
said
Ted
said
I believe that we would all act differently with a simple act of kindness in a situation like that. Language need not be a barrier. Has the fear of terrorism in airports today taken away our humanity?
Lastly, isn't it time that we review the use of the "non lethal" taser? This is not the first death from a restricted weapon/device that has been incorrectly lauded as a safe method of restraint
Peter
said
More specifically, YVR and the RCMP should be held to account. This was clearly an unjustified abuse of power on the part of police.
Take the Tasers away !
Nathalie
said
ance
said
I believe the taser should only be used in situations where the officer would have considered using deadly force if no such thing as a taser existed.
That should be the litmus test for whether taser use is appropriate.
Dallas
said
Todd
said
Ernst
said
Jim
said
J. Donovan-McDonald
said
I do this for all the people coming to visit me if they do speak the language.
Adam
said
Wayne H
said
Wayne from Winnipeg
Steve G D
said
And to all those of you who believe that the police offers should have tackled this guy instead of using tasers, why would the cops risk their safety for someone who is BREAKING THE LAW. Believe it or not, throwing computers and chairs around in an international airport is unlawful.
And let's get this straight, this man was NOT DETAINED, he voluntarily waited in the luggage area for 10 hours.
This is an unfortunate incident brought about by this man's poor judgment.
Candace
said
ToddS
said
Tasers are too easy. It seems the rcmp resorted to the taser because they were unwilling to do their job. How do I draw this conclusion? I see it as they took the easy way out rather than engage the individual by using only necessary means (not all means necessary! ie. Getting an interpreter, then physically subduing him if it came to that) It appears that they resorted to step three which should have been employed had the individual produced a weapon such as a knife. Yes, tasers are better than deadly force (ie. firearms) However, it is only logical that an officer should not use a shotgun against a knife if they have a taser or in this case a taser against an unarmed man who presented little challenge to numerous officers and security at their disposal. Surely, this man presented little danger to these officers in a very controled environment.
To all who argue that we are to not debate this in public is to commit intellectual suicide and buy into the belief that the elitists know best. Which seems to me an ignorant and irrational response. If we don't engage this in the public arena shame on us! Maybe, more information will shed light on this... but maybe it won't. Sometimes I believe you need to call a spade a spade. You really do us a disservice when you appeal to reason and deny it at the same time.
PirateGen
said
My sympathies to Mr. Dziekanski's family. Fortunately when I travelled alone in foreign countries where I did not speak the language, my human rights were never abused like this.
Marlene
said
I can only speculate how this man at the Vancouver airport felt. Why was he not assisted by the airport staff BEFORE the RCMP arrived.
Danny
said
Samuel
said
I see none of these values reflected in the RCMP's actions in dealing with this MAN, not monster, nor terrorist - a lost, scared and irrational man who was in need of RCMP help that spoke to our values, not violated them. And how sad and tired is the retort "just doing their job"? This is cowardice extraordinaire...surrendering individual moral imperative to an ORGANIZATION. This is the cowardly kind of submission that pounds a path straight into into an Orwell's 1984...not the Canada I had in mind for my kids.
A Canadian living in the U.S.
said
jeff
said
Secondly, there will be, as is standard practice, a full inquiry into what happened, which will include ALL of the facts, not just what we see in the video. Perhaps at THAT time, we can better draw a conclusion as to whether the situation warranted the response.
Dan
said
Roy Herold
said
I completed my National Service under our previous government, and was trained to perform many sorts of violence. There were occasions when I had to employ my training to subdue people. I also have worked in nightclubs and bars where people occasionally needed to be ejected from a premise, or physically overpowered and controlled. I have never before seen such indiscriminate use of force - even in the bad old days here in S.A. We had (and as far as I am aware the same holds true in any civilised country) the principle of minimum force drummed into us: to only use the least amount of force necessary to achieve the immediate objective. In a situation like this one, the first thought in my mind would be that there was a strong possibility of a medical/psychological emergency occurring, and I would proceed with that in mind whether I could speak the person's language or not. The unfortunate fact remains that Tasers are just too easy to use - because they are "non-lethal". These cops are not worthy of the name, and should face the full force of the law that they have (presumably) sworn to uphold. Their behaviour reminds me of the worst sort of nightclub bouncer.
But what appals me is that anyone could have the gall to support their actions. For shame! To condone blatant thuggery is to ask for a beating oneself...
Rick
said
This is an over reliance on technology instead of basic policing skills in my opinion. I'm a big supporter of the police but this is just wrong what happened to this poor guy.
Serge
said
Irene Paris
said
After Mr. Dziekanski was processed by the immigration staff at the airport why did they not escort him out to the arrivals area where his mother was waiting...... they surely knew that he did not understand english, and needed help.
John K
said
I’m still horrified, “Thank God” the video was taken.
KK
said
Owen
said
Don
said
Craig
said
Just because there is a language barrier doesn't give him an excuse to cause a commotion.
Also, you have to get your facts straight. Dziekanski voluntarily waited for 10 hours, he was not being detained. Why he didn't ask for help or imply that he wanted assistance is the question that needs to be asked.
Kendra
said
Shirley
said
Jordan
said
Are people seriously suggesting that the ONLY way for four large men to subdue a confused immigrant is to shock him with electricity TWICE?
lnhan
said
Peter
said
Wojtek
said
"And let's get this straight, this man was NOT DETAINED, he voluntarily waited in the luggage area for 10 hours."
Oh, I see. They said to that confused man: "Prosze Pana, moze Pan wyjsc tymi drzwiami!" ("Sir, you can exit with that doors!") and he respondend: "Nie, dziekuje. Dobrowolnie tu zostane" ("No, thanks. I will stay here voluntarily")...
Let me put this straight. His mother asked officials about her son's whereabouts and no one helped her. If you know that there is a man waiting way too long in a luggage area it shouldn't be too hard to connect him with that question. It's obvious that by throwing chair and computer he wanted to get an attention as he could not communicate in english. Yes, it was a bad idea but for Gods sake, people do worse things when they feel unsafe and confused. First "shot" was unneeded but the next one is simply a crime as the guy was already laying on the floor helpless. Do something like that in Poland and you will be suspended and charged immediately.
Gibsona
said
I have also been a stranger in a foreign country where I don't speak the language. I have even been in stressful/scared situations in foreign airports where I didn't speak the language. That does not justify throwing things and barricading yourself no matter how tired and scared you are.
This person is a grown man! He's not some underaged kid waiting for his mother to help him. He's not from a 3rd world country who's never seen modern civilization. I've been to the airport in Poland and I would be surprised if I can find someone immediately who can speak my native tongue (not English). For some reason, the media is not asking the question of why he has not made arrangements with his mother/her friends/relatives that he can call in case they missed their connection with each other or he gets delayed at the airport. Logic would say that if this is your first time into any country and you are a brand new immigrant landing at the airport, you will likely get delayed by immigration. Canada is easy to get into but not that easy!
It seems all the onus is placed on Canada and our services or lack of as soon as someone lands here.
Mackay
said
Brogie
said
G.R. Williams
said
She did!! But incredibly the public area PA system doesn't extend into the secure area.
Have we become so focussed on the one in a million problem traveler that we have fogotten that most air travellers are tired, dehydrated, hungry, and often disoriented.
The Airport Authority and Federal bureaucrats have as much to explain as the RCMP.
G.R. Williams
said
No gun, no Taser, no radio, not even a nightstick, just a short truncheon and his ability to deal with people.
Yet somehow he dealt with knife wielding drunk sailors every day without getting himself or them killed.
Obviously some basic police skills have been lost.
Neil
said
Supporter!
said
CT
said