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Most people in this town know by now that a First Nation woman was shot twice by an Ontario Provincial Police Officer on First Street South on Monday 7th June at around 8:30pm.
In a town such as ours, where allegations of institutional and blatant racism from both the police and the town’s residents are rampant and have been going on for many years, it is no wonder that there are allegations and rumours of a racial motivation for the shooting.
Some people will obviously say that if the perpetrator had been a white woman, the police officer may have been more willing to try non-lethal methods such as her baton, or taser. I’m not so prone to immediately allege racism, but I do have to wonder whether things would have turned out different if her race had been different.
According to a witness ‘Dina Mandamin’ in this video on CTV, the story goes that Helen was under the influence whilst wielding a butter knife. After making repeated attempts to slash her wrists, and an attempt by the investigating officer to snatch the knife away, the suspect apparently lunged at the officer who was forced to shoot. If it wasn’t for this video on CTV I would probably accused the police of racism too but it is pretty hard to argue with an eye witness on video.
Attacking a police officer with a butter knife is a pretty stupid thing to do, under the influence or not. So for once… it appears that this incident in which a First Nation person has got hurt by the police is not the latest in a long line of police brutality.
CBC Sports
I would also like to note that not all OPP carry tasers. Only sergeants and ERT members are equipped with this non-lethal option. If I am not mistaken, there was no taser available to this police officer.
In my opinion, this police officer did her job well. A narrow object like a knife, even a butter knife, can cause death or serious bodily harm. The officer used her available tools to prevent such a thing from happening, and the suspect lived through it after all. The controversy is a little overblown.
When someone gets shot by those there to protect the innocent, we as a society have not only a right but a duty to question the decisions of the officer.
Assuming for a moment the suspect was within close proximity then I’m all for her being shot.
But if she’s 30ft away or so… the officer could have retreated behind her car, knocked her the f*ck out with her nightstick / baton, could have pepper sprayed her.
It’s hard to know for definite whether the officer’s actions were completely justified without having been a witness to the events.
So for once… it appears that this incident in which a First Nation person has got “hurt by the police is not the latest in a long line of police brutality.”
“for once” are you serious? you make it sound like the first nations are dropping like flies by the hand of all these ignorant white racist cops.
seriously, get a clue!
I`m sorry to say but from what i have experienced as a probation officer and dealings between aboriginals and policeing, law inforcers tend to be harder on aboriginals. In kenora this is not an exception. The other day my cousin was out side the local bar waiting for a taxi and guess who pulls up with their lights flashing. My cousin had 5 drinks but was charged with public intoxication. He was also thrown to the ground and picked up by his handcuffs although he did not struggle and has the bruices around his wrists to prove it. My cousin did not threaten the police in anyway and was also called a whiney indian when he complained about his wrists. So yeah it seems like there is a long line of police brutality because i bet you almost every aboriginal family has a story like this to share that hasn`t caught national media attention.