Members’ Actions at Onslow Fire Hall

Following is a statement from Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation, regarding Member testimony from today’s Mass Casualty Commission proceedings.

“Today’s testimony regarding the events that took place at the Onslow Fire Hall clearly demonstrates that Members validly believed that the individual outside the Fire Hall, wearing a reflective vest and standing beside a marked police vehicle, was the perpetrator. They acted appropriately and in accordance with their duty to try to stop the threat.

Today’s testimony is best contextualized with reference to an expert and independent Use of Force Report requested by investigators from Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT). Joel A. Johnston’s report identifies that both officers feared imminent death or grievous bodily harm to others and themselves, and believed they had to use lethal force to stop the threat.

Specifically, the Report found that: ‘the tactics applied … were consistent with the law, and were consistent with the pure theory, the written principles, and the spirit of the Incident Management / Intervention Model (IMIM), with RCMP use of force policies and training principles, and with accepted police practices in Canada.’

The Report further explains that officers, ‘…were acting on reasonable grounds when they visually and audibly confronted the man in the orange and yellow vest – whom they believed to be [the perpetrator]. They did not simply stop and fire rounds at him.’

We stand by the actions of our Members who acted decisively in their efforts to protect Nova Scotians from an active threat. We also understand and acknowledge that this event was traumatic for all occupants inside the Hall, as well as another Member who bravely continued to guard his post and protect the occupants of the Fire Hall.”

About the National Police Federation:

The National Police Federation (NPF) was certified to represent ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally in the summer of 2019. The NPF is the largest police labour relations organization in Canada; the second largest in North America and is the first independent national association to represent RCMP Members.

The NPF is focused on improving public safety in Canada by increasing resources, equipment, training, and other supports for our Members who have been under-funded for far too long. Better resourcing and supports for the RCMP will enhance community safety and livability in the communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.

For more information:  https://npf-fpn.com/

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Media contact:

Fabrice de Dongo
Manager, Media Relations
fdedongo@npf-fpn.com
(647) 274-7118