The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

man Ea a Ri ER TERT pe 4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 5, 1999 Union supports cops By Rik Davie Special to the Star The investigation by the Special Investigation Unit into the Dec. 28 shooting involving - York and . Durham Regional Police - - in which a 44-year-old Brock Township resident was killed -- is just the latest in the SIU's contro- versial eight-year history. New changes to rules regulating police coopera- tion with the SIU went into effect Jan. 1, as a new director takes over the reins of the civilian unit. The SIU investigates civil- ian death or injury involv- ing any of Ontario's police services. Under new guidelines, officers involved with SIU investigations are com- pelled to give statements within 24 hours of the inci- dent. - Already, Metro Police Association memos have been posted advising their members that they should not speak to civilian SIU investigators until they have consulted a lawyer. The memo tells members that in the opinion of the Metro Association, SIU investigators may not always be looking out for the best interest of its members. Durham Regional Police Association President Terry Ryan said he agrees with the Metro Association's stand. His association works closely with officers who are under SIU scrutiny. "We speak to the officers involved as quickly as we can," said Mr. Ryan, who was at the Sunderland station soon after the inci- dent on Side Road 17 that left one York police officer with a bullet wound to the face, another York officer with severe facial bruises, a 17-year-old resident of the home wounded and Officers under scrutiny Su as SIU probes shooting death fatal po has } : itself the subject of scrutiny after allegations that investigators was drunk at the scene of SIU investigators converged on the scene of a police shooting which left a man dead near Sunderland last week (File photo). his father dead from what appears to be police gun- fire. Three officers -- two from York Region and one from Durham -- have been named as subject officers in the SIU investigation. Another Durham officer has been designated a wit- ness officer. "I was there as soon as I could be to be with our officers," said Mr. Ryan. "This is a tragedy for the family as well as for the police officers involved and their families." Mr. Ryan said police association reps are with the officers to help with' procedures, not to talk about the incident. "We_ actually avoid talk- ing about specifics of what happened," Mr. Ryan said. "We do not want to fall into the witness category at any subsequent inquiry. We are there to help the officers think at a time when they are under pres- stire, and sometimes in shock themselves." The fatal shooting came just days before the province would have gone a full year without a fatal police shooting, the first in the eight year history of the SIU. As far as cooperation with the SIU investiga- tion, Ryan said that goes without saying for 'his members. "We have always dealt well with the SIU and we encourage our members, in as much as (legal) coun- sel will allow, that they be available quickly to the investigators." The Durham force has been found to be acting within guidelines in two SIU investigations into civilian deaths resulting from motor vehicle acci- dents this past year. This probe is the second by the SIU in Durham in less than two months. Just before Christmas three Durham officers were cleared of any wrongdoing following a traffic accident that killed an Oshawa man. The driver of a truck involved in that crash, in November, was fleeing police. * the investigation. : Palen Gail Scala, spokesperson for the SIU, confirmed for drinking on job By Rik Davie Special to the Star that a part-time SIU investigator called to the shooting scene on Side Road 17 in Brock Township Dec. 28 appeared to be intoxicated when he arrived 3 to guard the crime scene. "We were informed almost as soon as he appeared and dispatched another SIU investigator who removed him from the scene," said Ms Scala. "The SIU person was suspended indefinitely and we are 'looking into the matter." ob 'Ms Scala could not confirm information from sources close to the investigation, who said that the SIU employee involved is a retired Metro Police Officer. She would confirm only that he works for the agency on an on-call basis. "It's one of the problems we (the SIU) have faced . "in the past with a shortage of manpower during high-profile investigations such as this," she said + Ms Scala said she hopes that reforms to the unit coming into effect this year will do away with such - problems in the future. - ge "The important thing is that the integrity of the _ investigation was maintained," she said. Terry Ryan, president of the Durham Regional Police Association, said that the condition of one of ~ the SIU people at the scene of the fatal shooting 'was brought to his attention by a police officer. "It was alleged that one member of the SIU team 3 at the scene had been drinking," said Mr. Ryan. "We faxed a letter to the SIU voicing our concerns, and we expect to receive a formal reply to our inqui suspension of an SIU investigator. + J : "We are there to look after the best interests of our officers," Ryan said. "This incident is unfortunate - for the investigation." The SIU was called in to investigate after a 44- year-old man died and a his 17-year-old son was wounded in the incident. Sgt. Jim Grimley, media spokesperson for the Durham Regional Police Service said that Chief Kevin McAlpine was also aware of the alleged inci- dent and sent a letter to the SIU expressing his con- cern. "The matter has already been investigated by the SIU, and we understand that the SIU has taken action in the matter," said Grimley. The York Regional Police force, which has two offi- cers involved as subject officers in the shootings, refused comment. "We have no reaction, no comment," said Insp. Paul Sorel. He said that the York Chief J Rg 8 jfaniing did not send a comment or inquiry to the SIU. recial Investigation Unit looking into the fice shooting in Brock Township has found Mr. Ryan said the police union reacted quickly to the allegations, which resulted in the temporary Scala. the injury." cers. From page 1 It is not known yet which officer or officers fired the fatal shots, said Ms 4 "It was originally determined by our investigators that three weapons were fired by the officers, but not the number of shots," she said. "We do not know specifically which (officer(s)) caused No comment from agency The SIU would not comment if any weapons were found in the Romagnuolo home or if shots were fired at the offi- ~ Several statements taken by investigators so far SIU moving toward Swift completion of probe Constables Randy Martin . Mike Hoskins, along with Durham Constable Alan Robins, have al} been designated subject officers by the SIU. ~ "We have not spoken with the subject officers, nor are they com- pelled to speak k Enzo Romagnuolo with us," she said, adding that no times ken with the SIU. Rocco Romagnuolo have scheduled for a meeting between the offi- cers and inves- tigators. Durham Constable Nancy George, who accompany the three officers to the door, has been designated as a witness offi- cer and has spo- been Witness officers are required by law' to speak with investigators, said Ms Scala. Investigators have also spoken with "at least three" family members as well, she said. 30 days target for conclusion = The investigation should be wrapped 'up in'abbut 30 days. "We will try to complete in 30 days; hopefully we will complete it in that time frame," said Ms Scala, noting that most SIU probes in 1997 were finished within a month. "This certainly is a complex case, with a number of factors involved." did not