Toronto police officer killed in unprovoked ‘ambush’ attack
Sept. 12, 2022
A 48-year-old Toronto police officer was fatally shot at close range and died at the scene in an unprovoked “ambush” attack in Mississauga as part of a shooting rampage that continued into Milton and left one other person dead and three injured, police officials said Monday.
The gunman was taken into custody and pronounced dead in Hamilton. That incident is now the subject of an investigation by Ontario’s police watchdog.
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the death of Toronto Police Service Constable Andrew Hong of Traffic Services,” Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said at a news conference alongside his counterparts from Peel and Halton regions in Mississauga Monday night.
Ramer said Hong was a 22-year-veteran of the force who was also a father of two, a husband, a brother and a son. The chief said he met with the fallen officer’s family earlier today.
RCMP says recording of disputed Lucki phone call did exist but has been deleted
Sep 13, 2022
One of Canada’s top Mounties says there was a recording of a conference call with the RCMP commissioner that sparked concerns of political interference — but it has since been deleted.
Deputy Commissioner Brian Brennan testified Friday about the recording before the Mass Casualty Commission leading the public inquiry into the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shootings.
Brennan said Dan Brien, director of media relations with the RCMP, recorded at least some of the phone call. Brennan was also on the April 28, 2020, call with Commissioner Brenda Lucki and high-ranking Nova Scotia RCMP officers and civilian staff.
Brennan said he was aware of an internal RCMP investigation into where the recording was and whether it could be retrieved, but has been told the recording is gone.
“It doesn’t exist because Mr. Brien has deleted it from whatever phone he was using,” Brennan said.
RCMP survey says only 35% of Canadians trust national leadership
https://torontosun.com/news/national/rcmp-survey-says-only-35-of-canadians-trust-national-leadership
Sep 13, 2022
In-house research done by the RCMP says only 35% of Canadians surveyed said they trust the national leadership of Commissioner Brenda Lucki. The low approval rating follows a string of incidents that left just 51% of Canadians rating the Mounties as an honest police force, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“41% of Canadians rate the RCMP’s local leaders as effective and slightly fewer, 35% offer a positive appraisal of its national leaders,” said the report called Canadians’ Views Of RCMP Policing Services.
“Tracking suggests that, as with many other issues, trust in the RCMP’s national leaders has eroded somewhat over the past year.”