Killing of Robert Dziekański: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox event

{{wikinews|Video of man tasered at Vancouver airport released}}

 

 

During customs processing, Dziekański began showing frustration and agitation towards airport staff. When members of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) encountered him in the international reception lounge at the airport, they pinned, handcuffed and used a [[Taser]] [[electroshock weapon]] on Dziekański multiple times—with accounts suggesting the weapon was used four or five times. Dziekański died at the scene from a [[heart attack]] induced by the electrical shocks.

 

 

==Incident==

 

Dziekański's flight was two hours late, and arrived at about 3:15&nbsp;p.m on October 13, 2007.<ref name="YVRreport">{{cite web |url=http://www.yvr.ca/pdf/authority/newscentre/PreliminaryReport.pdf |title=Preliminary Report on the Circumstances of the Death of Robert Dziekanski |access-date=December 20, 2007 |work=Vancouver Airport Authority}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="Grieving_mother">{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |title=Grieving mother recalls plans for new life with son |date=November 15, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grieving-mother-recalls-plans-for-new-life-with-son-1.662003 |access-date=November 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116044640/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grieving-mother-recalls-plans-for-new-life-with-son-1.662003 |archive-date=November 16, 2007}}</ref><ref name="timeline">{{cite news |newspaper=National Post |title=Robert Dziekanski timeline: His tragic, final hours |date=December 8, 2007 |url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2007/12/08/robert-dziekanski-timeline-his-tragic-final-hours.aspx |access-date=December 14, 2007 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> According to official sources, Dziekański required language support to complete initial [[customs]] formalities. After he completed initial immigration processing, his whereabouts between 4:00&nbsp;p.m. and about 10:45&nbsp;p.m. remain unclear, though at various points he was seen around the [[baggage carousel]]s.<ref name = CBSA/> Dziekański's mother, Zofia Cisowski, had told him to wait for her at the baggage claim area, but this was a secured area where she was not allowed to enter.<ref name="Taser officers"/> At 10:45&nbsp;p.m., when he attempted to leave the customs hall, he was directed again to secondary immigration as the final processes of his new immigrant papers had not yet been processed.<ref name="YVRreport"/><ref name=CBSA>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2007/1126-c-eng.pdf |title=# Report Pertaining to the Interaction of the CBSA With Robert Dziekanski on October 13–14, 2007 Appendix A: Chronology of Events |access-date=December 20, 2007 |work=Canada Border Services Agency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909204609/http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2007/1126-c-eng.pdf |archive-date=September 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dziekański's immigration procedures were completed at about 12:15&nbsp;a.m. on October 14.<ref name="YVRreport"/><ref name = CBSA/> After 30 minutes in an immigration waiting area, he was taken to the international arrivals reception area.<ref name = CBSA/> Cisowski had been making enquiries of airport staff since the early afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazetagazeta.com/artman/publish/article_22736.shtml|title=GAZETA: CZAS NIE LECZY RAN|work=gazetagazeta.com|access-date=September 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211050/http://www.gazetagazeta.com/artman/publish/article_22736.shtml|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Airport staff told her Dziekański was not at the airport and she had returned to Kamloops at about 10&nbsp;p.m., believing her son had missed his flight.<ref name="timeline"/><ref name="Taser officers">{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |title=Taser officers should be prosecuted: Polish official |date=November 16, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/taser-officers-should-be-prosecuted-polish-official-1.681554 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001082659/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/taser-officers-should-be-prosecuted-polish-official-1.681554 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2007 }}</ref>

When Dziekański left the customs hall, he became visibly agitated. Bystanders and airport security guards were unable to communicate with him because he did not speak English.<ref name="Taser officers"/> He used chairs to prop open the one-way doors between a customs clearing area and a public lounge and at one point threw a computer and a small table to the floor before the police arrived.<ref name="CBC Taser video">{{cite news |title=Taser video shows RCMP shocked immigrant within 25 seconds of their arrival |publisher=CBC News |date=November 14, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/taser-video-shows-rcmp-shocked-immigrant-within-25-seconds-of-their-arrival-1.652207 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219233730/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/taser-video-shows-rcmp-shocked-immigrant-within-25-seconds-of-their-arrival-1.652207 |archive-date=December 19, 2007}}</ref> Four RCMP officers, constables Gerry Rundel, Bill Bentley, Kwesi Millington, and a supervisor, Corporal Benjamin Robinson, arrived and entered the customs room where Dziekański was pacing about. They apparently directed him to stand near a counter, to which Dziekański complied but then he picked up a [[stapler]] sometime after being told to place his hands on a counter.<ref name="Witness">{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |title=Witness blames RCMP, Vancouver airport for death of Tasered man |date=October 19, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/witness-blames-rcmp-vancouver-airport-for-death-of-tasered-man-1.652651 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021030108/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/witness-blames-rcmp-vancouver-airport-for-death-of-tasered-man-1.652651 |archive-date=October 21, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |title=Supervising officer ordered Taser use on Dziekanski |date=March 23, 2009 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/supervising-officer-ordered-taser-use-on-dziekanski-1.805273 |access-date=April 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327073429/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/supervising-officer-ordered-taser-use-on-dziekanski-1.805273 |archive-date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dziekanski-s-mother-has-lost-faith-in-justice-system-wants-new-probe-1.836023 |title=Dziekanski's mother has 'lost faith' in justice system, wants new probe |author=CBC News |date=April 2, 2009 |access-date=April 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406044347/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dziekanski-s-mother-has-lost-faith-in-justice-system-wants-new-probe-1.836023 |archive-date=April 6, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

 

 

==Controversy==

[[Image:Dziekanski-tasered.jpg|right|230px|thumb|October 14, 2007: Screenshot from video taken by Paul Pritchard showing Robert Dziekański shortly after being tasered by RCMP officers at Vancouver airport.]] The entire event was recorded by Paul Pritchard, another traveler who was at the airport. Pritchard handed his camera and the video to police who told him that they would return the video within 48 hours. Instead, they returned the camera with a new memory card and kept the original with the video, saying they needed it to preserve the integrity of the investigation. They claimed witness statements would be tainted if they viewed the [[video evidence]] before being interviewed by police.<ref name="witness's video">{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |title=Police say they won't return witness's video of airport Taser incident |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/police-say-they-won-t-return-witness-s-video-of-airport-taser-incident-1.683518 |date=October 30, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102131617/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/police-say-they-won-t-return-witness-s-video-of-airport-taser-incident-1.683518 |archive-date=November 2, 2007 }}</ref> Pritchard went to court to obtain the video, which he then released to the media on November 14, 2007; three television outlets paid fees to Pritchard for the right to broadcast the video.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=CBC News |title=Cash for Taser video will pay for father's medical treatment: Pritchard |date=November 15, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cash-for-taser-video-will-pay-for-father-s-medical-treatment-pritchard-1.658090 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308022829/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cash-for-taser-video-will-pay-for-father-s-medical-treatment-pritchard-1.658090 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=CTV.ca |title=Airport death video shows man's final moments |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=March 18, 2009 |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/airport-death-video-shows-man-s-final-moments-1.263923 |quote=Pritchard told The Verdict that media outlets in B.C. paid him for access to the video, but he did not sell it to the highest bidder. He said he did not ask for money, but reporters offered him a fee for the video. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226071508/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071113/airport_taser_071114/20071114?hub=TopStories |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=CanWest News Service |title=Video released of police using Taser on man |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=March 18, 2009 |url=http://www2.canada.com/ch/cheknews/news/story.html?id=38e10bcb-6ea6-4638-809b-31bd32019bdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314152923/http://www2.canada.com/ch/cheknews/news/story.html?id=38e10bcb-6ea6-4638-809b-31bd32019bdf |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the video was made available, an RCMP spokesperson cautioned the public to reserve judgment about the police because the video represented "just one small piece of evidence, one person's view."<ref name="CBC Taser video"/>

 

 

===Criticism of the RCMP===

The RCMP's handling of the incident led to charges that they misrepresented the facts. The [[BC Civil Liberties Association]] filed a complaint in 2007 arguing that the evidence shows that the Taser was not used as a last resort and condemning the RCMP for its attempt to suppress the video and for casting aspersions on the character of Dziekański.<ref>

{{cite web |publisher=BC Civil Liberties Association |title=Letter re: Complaint against the RCMP over public statements and actions in the investigation of the in-custody death of Robert Dziekanski |date=November 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214211430/http://www.bccla.org/othercontent/07Dziekanski.pdf |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |url=http://www.bccla.org/othercontent/07Dziekanski.pdf }}</ref><ref>

 

 

The officers have been subject to criticism, both in the media and in formal proceedings before the [[Braidwood Inquiry|Braidwood Commission of Inquiry]]. The officers were served notices of misconduct by the commission forewarning them the commissioner may include a finding of misconduct in its final report.<ref name="Silverman-reasons para 11">[http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/SC/09/08/2009BCSC0814err1.htm ''Rundel v. British Columbia – Braidwood Commission'', 2009 BCSC 814], at para. 11, edited transcript of the oral reasons for judgment of Silverman J., June 15, 2009.</ref> The warnings allege specific but overlapping grounds for each of the four. The collective allegations are that they failed to properly assess and respond to the circumstances in which they found Dziekański. They repeatedly deployed the taser without justification and separately failed to adequately reassess the situation before further deploying it. The notices allege that afterwards they misrepresented facts in notes and statements, furthered the misrepresenting before the commission and provided further misleading information about other evidence before the commission. The four officers each sought judicial review to prevent the commission from making findings based on the notices.<ref name="Silverman-reasons para 17">[http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/SC/09/08/2009BCSC0814err1.htm ''Rundel v. British Columbia – Braidwood Commission'', 2009 BCSC 814], at para. 17, edited transcript of the oral reasons for judgment of Silverman J., June 15, 2009.</ref> The petitions were dismissed. Three of the officers appealed and lost.<ref>[http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/CA/09/06/2009BCCA0604.htm ''Bentley v. Braidwood'', 2009 BCCA 604], Reasons for Judgment of the Honourable Madam Justice Saunders, December 29, 2009.</ref> In July 2013 one of the three officers was cleared of perjury. The remaining two officers stood trial in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/mountie-cleared-of-perjury-charges-related-to-inquiry-into-dziekanski-taser-death/article13486997/ |location=Toronto |work=The Globe and Mail |title=Mountie cleared of perjury charge related to inquiry into Dziekanski taser death |date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919121111/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/mountie-cleared-of-perjury-charges-related-to-inquiry-into-dziekanski-taser-death/article13486997/ |archive-date=September 19, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

 

===Taser debate===

The police and the manufacturer have claimed that such deaths are the result of pre-existing medical conditions, not the electrical shock of the Taser. In the Vancouver case, police have suggested that Dziekański died from a condition described as "[[excited delirium]]."<ref name="Man died"/> A statement from [[TASER International]], the company that makes the weapon, asserts that Dziekański's death "appears to follow the pattern of many in-custody deaths following a confrontation with the police. Historically, medical science and forensic analysis has shown that these deaths are attributable to other factors and not the low-energy electrical discharge of the Taser."<ref>{{cite news |publisher=CNN |date=November 18, 2007 |title=Man dies after police jolt him with stun gun |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/18/taser.death/index.html |access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref>

 

 

===Criticism of airport===

 

===Polish reaction===

 

On December 12, 2008, the Polish embassy in Ottawa issued a statement stating that the Crown's decision not to charge the RCMP officers was "most disappointing".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottawa.polemb.net/index.php?document=207 |title=A statement of the Embassy of Poland on the decision of the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General's Criminal Justice Branch in Robert Dziekański's case |date=December 12, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626055422/http://www.ottawa.polemb.net/index.php?document=207 |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

 

 

 

===Law enforcement response===

==Investigation==

 

 

 

 

On 18 June 2010 the long-awaited Braidwood report was released. It concluded the RCMP were not justified in using the Taser, and that the officers later deliberately misrepresented their actions to investigators. Braidwood said he would leave any further questions about possible charges against the officers for the Crown to decide, and added:<ref name="final inquiry report">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-wrong-to-use-taser-on-dziekanski-report-1.928850 |title=RCMP wrong to use Taser on Dziekanski: report |last=Petrovic |first=Curt |date=June 18, 2010 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222052515/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-wrong-to-use-taser-on-dziekanski-report-1.928850 |archive-date=December 22, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{cquote|This tragic case is at its heart a story of shameful conduct by a few officers. It ought not to reflect unfairly on the many thousands of RCMP and other police officers who have, through years of public service, protected our communities and earned a well-deserved reputation for doing so.}}

 

 

On 29 June 2010 and prodded by the Braidwood findings, [[special prosecutor (Canada)|special prosecutor]] [[Richard Peck (lawyer)|Richard Peck]] released an opinion there was sufficient new evidence to reopen the investigation into conduct of the four RCMP officers. The province's Criminal Justice Branch had decided in December 2008 not to charge the officers, saying their use of force was reasonable in the circumstances, but Peck said the inquiry unearthed new evidence and he recommended that the decision not to lay charges should be revisited.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/1115366 |title=New evidence enough to reopen Dziekanski death investigation: prosecutor |access-date=June 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928101127/http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/1115366 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

 

On June 22, 2015, Constable Kwesi Millington was sentenced to 30 months for the crime of perjury in his testimony to the Braidwood Inquiry.<ref>[http://bc.ctvnews.ca/mountie-kwesi-millington-sentenced-to-30-months-in-jail-for-perjury-1.2434604 ctvnews.ca: "Mountie Kwesi Millington sentenced to 30 months in jail for perjury"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412062147/http://bc.ctvnews.ca/mountie-kwesi-millington-sentenced-to-30-months-in-jail-for-perjury-1.2434604 |date=April 12, 2017 }}, June 22, 2015</ref><ref name=cbc15>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/robert-dziekanski-taser-death-kwesi-millington-found-guilty-of-perjury-1.2964744 cbc.ca: "Robert Dziekanski Taser death: Kwesi Millington found guilty of perjury"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508213119/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/robert-dziekanski-taser-death-kwesi-millington-found-guilty-of-perjury-1.2964744 |date=May 8, 2017 }}, June 22, 2015</ref> Justice [[William Ehrcke]] said it was "preposterous" that the Mountie claimed Dziekański was standing while he was stunned a second time, when it's clear from bystander video that Dziekański was already on the ground. In his ruling, Ehrcke said "The Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Constable Millington gave oral evidence under oath which he knew at the time to be false, and he did so with the intention to mislead the inquiry."

Constable Bill Bentley was cleared of similar charges by Justice [[Mark McEwan]],<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mountie-in-dziekanski-taser-death-not-guilty-of-lying-1.1302503 cbc.ca: "Mountie in Dziekanski Taser death not guilty of lying"], July 29, 2013</ref> but as of June 22, 2015 the Crown had appealed the verdict. Robinson was then awaiting the verdict in his case, while Rundel's trial was "almost finished" at that point in time.<ref name=cbc15/>

 

 

===Other Investigations===

====Investigation completed====

*[[Canada Border Services Agency]] (November 26, 2007)<ref name="internal_report">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2007/1126vancouver-eng.html |title=CBSA releases internal report and recommendations following the events at Vancouver International Airport |publisher=[[Canada Border Services Agency]] |date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=December 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212233231/http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2007/1126vancouver-eng.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*[[Vancouver International Airport]] Authority (December 7, 2007)<ref name="YVRre">{{cite web|url=http://www.yvr.ca/latestinfo/index.asp?id=532 |title=YVR Implements Immediate Changes to Improve Service |publisher=Vancouver Airport Authority |date=December 7, 2007 |access-date=December 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214220910/http://www.yvr.ca/latestinfo/index.asp?id=532 |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*[[Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP]] interim report (December 12, 2007)<ref name="CPCRCMP">{{cite web|url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/NewsRoom/index_e.aspx?articleid=1635 |title=CPC Chair Submits Interim Taser Report to Public Safety Minister Day |publisher=Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP |date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215043109/http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/NewsRoom/index_e.aspx?articleid=1635 |archive-date=December 15, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) (Internal Investigation June 18, 2008)<ref>[https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=594708 No charges urged in Dziekanski report]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

*The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP Final Report concerning the RCMP's use of the Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) (June 18, 2008)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/080618_CPC_RCMP_Report.pdf |title=RCMP Use of the Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) |access-date=December 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218222159/http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/080618_CPC_RCMP_Report.pdf |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/nrm/nr/2008/20080618-eng.aspx |title=News Release: CPC Chair submits final Conducted Energy Weapon Report to Public Safety Minister |date=June 18, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181716/http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/nrm/nr/2008/20080618-eng.aspx |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/inv/cew-ai/cew_fin_rp-eng.aspx |title=RCMP Use of the Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) Final Report |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303102423/http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/inv/cew-ai/cew_fin_rp-eng.aspx |archive-date=March 3, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*Compliance Strategy Group (Kiedrowski's Report) conducted an independent review of the adoption and use of Conducted Energy Weapons by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in June 2008 and released under the ''Access to Information and Privacy Act''.<ref>[http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ccaps/cew/kiedrowski_report_e.htm An Independent Review of the Adoption and Use of Conducted Energy Weapons by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police]{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

*On November 8, 2007, the chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP initiated a complaint concerning the incident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/nrm/mad/arc/2007/20071108-eng.aspx |title=Media Advisory: Chair-Initiated Complaint — In-custody death of Robert DZIEKANSKI — Vancouver, British Columbia |date=November 8, 2007 |access-date=March 13, 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/rep/rev/chair-pre/cic-robertD-07-eng.aspx |title=Chair-Initiated Public Complaint: In-custody death of Mr. Robert DZIEKANSKI, October 14, 2007 |date=November 8, 2007 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212190855/http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/rep/rev/chair-pre/cic-robertD-07-eng.aspx |archive-date=December 12, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a subsequent report dated November 30, 2007, it was noted that the Commission for Public Complaints "will continue its review of the incident in accordance with the terms of the Chair-initiated complaint initiated on November 8, 2007".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/rep/opp/fsp-rsf/fVancouberIA-eng.aspx |title=Final Status Report: CPC/RCMP Independent Observer Pilot Project: Vancouver International Airport In-Custody Death, Conducted Energy Weapon Deployed |date=November 30, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The CPC released its report on December 8, 2009, highlighting 23 findings and 16 recommendations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/rep/rev/chair-pre/dziekanski/robertD-index-eng.aspx |title=Report Following a Public Interest Investigation into a Chair Initiated Complaint Respecting the Death in RCMP Custody of Mr. Robert Dziekanski |date=December 8, 2009 |access-date=December 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007133225/http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/rep/rev/chair-pre/dziekanski/robertD-index-eng.aspx |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among its findings were that while the officers were in the lawful execution of their duties, they failed to adopt an appropriate response. It deemed their use of tasers were "premature and inappropriate" with no warnings given prior to use and their versions of events given to investigators were "not deemed credible" by the CPC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mytelus |url=http://home.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?CatID=National&ArticleID=news%2Fcapfeed%2Fnational%2Fn120873A.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714144727/http://home.mytelus.com/telusen/portal/NewsChannel.aspx?CatID=National&ArticleID=news%2Fcapfeed%2Fnational%2Fn120873A.xml |archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref>

 

====Closing of investigations in Poland====

 

==Apology==

 

==See also==

* [[Taser safety issues]]

 

* [[Death of Jordan Begley]]

* [[Death of Kelly Thomas]]

 

==References==

==External links==

{{refbegin|30em}}

*{{cite web |url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/Reppub/index_e.aspx?articleid=1587 |title=Chair-initiated public complaint from the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP |access-date=November 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119031617/http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/Reppub/index_e.aspx?articleid=1587 |archive-date=November 19, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

*{{cite web |url=http://www.amnesty.ca/amnestynews/upload/AMR2000207.pdf |title=Amnesty International report Canada: Inappropriate and excessive use of taser |access-date=November 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909204609/http://www.amnesty.ca/amnestynews/upload/AMR2000207.pdf |archive-date=September 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

{{refend}}

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dziekanski, Robert}}

[[Category:Royal Canadian Mounted Police]]

[[Category:Richmond, British Columbia]]

[[Category:Filmed killings by law enforcement]]

[[Category:Vancouver International Airport]]

[[Category:October 2007 events in Canada]]