De-escalation, K-9 at issue for Calgary Police Commission following officer shooting
Global News
Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld took questions from Calgary Police Commissioners on officer tactics and alleged racism in response to the shooting death of Latjor Tuel.
Calgary’s police chief was called to account by the force’s civilian oversight body following a high-profile police shooting over the weekend.
The monthly Calgary Police Commission began its meeting with commissioners asking Chief Mark Neufeld about the processes, policies and next steps the police service will be taking following the shooting death of Latjor Tuel.
Because the incident was under investigation by provincial police watchdog Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, Neufeld was unable to comment on anything specifically from that incident.
Commissioner and Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott said the questioning was to help the commission address “structural issues that just exist.”
“It’s not a matter of any one particular organization. It’s very clear that there are supports that are needed on a system-wide basis to really ensure and grow the ability to respond to people in crisis,” Walcott said.
The use of police dogs for the call of an apparently-armed Black man was brought up in several lines of questioning.
“Was it appropriate to use a K-9 unit who is trained to attack as a de-escalation tool with a member of a racialized community, given this understanding of our history and our collective – and when I say ‘our’ I mean the Commission and CPS’s — collective use of an anti-racist lens?” commissioner Heather Campbell asked.
“With respect, Commissioner Campbell, that’s a question for the ASIRT investigation,” Neufeld responded.