RCMP officer faces impaired driving charge in fatal B.C. crash

[urban.one]

RCMP officer faces impaired driving charge in fatal B.C. crash


Globe and Mail Update and Canadian Press

October 28, 2008 at 4:56 PM EDT

VANCOUVER — One of the four officers involved in the fatal confrontation with Robert Dziekanski is now facing charges of impaired driving after a 21-year-old man was killed in a collision over the weekend.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields confirmed an off-duty member of the force was involved in the collision that resulted in the death of motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson.

The officer, who serves on the Olympic Integrated Security Unit, is facing a charge of impaired driving causing death. He is was one of the four Mounties involved in last year's fatal confrontation with Robert Dziekanski, who died after being hit by a Taser at the Vancouver airport.

Delta police are investigating the weekend collision. The officer has been suspended with pay.

"I need to say that, on behalf of RCMP members and employees across Canada, this is the most unimaginable heartbreak ever and we are sick about it," said Sgt. Shields.

"The officer involved is predictably devastated, as are we," he said.

To the dead man's family, he added: "Our deepest and most heartfelt and sincere condolences are with you and our hearts and prayers are with you."

The other three officers involved in the Dziekanski confrontation remain on duty but Sgt. Shields would not say where.

The name of the officer will not be released until he is formally charged at his first court appearance in January.

Mr. Hutchinson was killed Saturday night when his motorcycle collided with a Jeep in nearby Tsawwassen.

Police said the driver of the Jeep failed a breathalyzer test and faces at least two charges in connection with the accident.

The accused was released Sunday by Delta police. RCMP have no role in the criminal investigation, he said

[prae]

wow. what a fuckup that officer is

[gretz]

suspended with pay, what a fucking joke

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by gretz
suspended with pay, what a fucking joke

[Moe Man]

wow

[kenny]

Originally posted by gretz
suspended with pay, what a fucking joke

Innocent until proven guilty.

[Super_Geo]

So Dayglow, how many civilians can you kill before you're suspended without pay?

5? 10?

[gretz]

Originally posted by kenny


Innocent until proven guilty.

i wonder if this would be the case if the off-duty cop were on the bike and the jeep was a drunk civilian?

The cop killed the biker, blew over at the scene where he hit the civilian......
Sadly, he'll likely get a slap on the wrists

[picmerollin]

fucking disgusting, what a piece of shit

this guy is supposed to set an example and uphold the law, i sincerely hope he is punished to the extreme.....

to save face and set an example for others who may abuse their authority by acting above the law.

murderer

[phil98z24]

Super-Geo - if you have a criminal charge laid against you, does your work suspend you? Or if they do, do they suspend you without pay? You may not be happy with it, and many others may not be happy with it, but cops don't get suspended without pay for many things because they too are innocent until proven guilty, and being suspended without pay is seen as a form of punishment for a crime that they have not yet been found guilty of.

This is the double edged sword of our justice system - it is meant to keep people from being unnecessarily punished before a finding of guilt, but just like gang bangers and other shitheads of the world, police are also innocent until proven guilty.

I'm not saying I agree with it, just lending a bit of explanation as to why things happen this way. I know we are held to a higher standard, but there is a bit of a grey area when it comes to punishing police officers for off duty incidents while still holding them accountable to the higher standard of being a police officer.

Anyways, I too find this completely and utterly wrong, and I hope he is properly punished for this. As police officers, we do know the law and how it applies to everyone including us, and that we are not above it. I hope this is dealt with in the correct manner.

[FivE.SeveN]

The officer has been suspended with pay.

lol

[Thomas Gabriel]

Don't blame him guys. He has to deal with assholes all day and sometimes gets frustrated.

[TACO.VIDAL]

this cop will argue that he is suffering trauma from the dumbass who decided to die upon being tasered. this will probably result in a promotion.

[SOAB]

someone who drives for a living would probably get FIRED for doing something like this. yet an officer of the law who should know better gets a paid vacation.

[DayGlow]

Well the same senario played out earlier this year in Edmonnton were the cop was suspended with pay right away then a few weeks later after the internal investigation was completed he lost pay. Most likely the RCMP are getting their ducks in a row before proceeding to the next level. It doesn't happen over night.

As for any real punishment if he is found guilty it will be on the legal system, which find very lacking when dealing with drunk drivers. Don't expect it to fit the crime.

[JRSC00LUDE]

You idiots that are pissed off about the suspended with pay part are fucking morons. It's part of the process and it will all sort itself out, grow up for fuck sake.

I can guarantee that if any of you were charged with something criminal and your boss automatically fired your ass before it was all dealt with according to the law that you'd be on here bitching, moaning and whining until your fingers cramped and bled.

Why should the principles of fundamental justice (sorry if the terminology is wrong I'm not a legal beagle but you get my point) not be applied to everyone equally? Fucking idiots.

[Civ2NR]

CBC.ca story on this said that when he hit the motorcycle he exited the vehicle, handed his licence to a bystander, took two kids out of the jeep and then left the scene whitout even checking on the guy he hit.

Wish there was more info though; who was at fault? Did he run a red light? etc.

[semograd]

Just a question, if it was a civilian instead of a police officer, what would happen to him immediately after he was caught?

Would he have to wait in jail until he was given a court date or would he be a free man until the court date?

[phil98z24]

Originally posted by semograd
Just a question, if it was a civilian instead of a police officer, what would happen to him immediately after he was caught?

Would he have to wait in jail until he was given a court date or would he be a free man until the court date?

He would be kicked loose with an Appearance Notice or Promise to Appear, have his vehicle impounded for 24 hours, lose his license for 60 days because it was an offence causing injury or death and then appear in court... just like Joe Citizen.

People waiting in jail for court dates... hahaha! If that actually happened we wouldn't discussions about people charged with multiple drug/weapons/fraud/racketeering/any offence walking the streets shortly after being charged. This is the unfortunate reality of a justice system that protects our right to be free, and innocent until proven guilty.

[Moe Man]

due process VS crime control