Status quo deemed 'unacceptable' years before Moncton Mountie shootings, trial hears

An internal RCMP document written years before the shooting deaths of three Moncton Mounties and wounding of two others said "continuation of the status quo [with respect to weaponry and training] is unacceptable," the national police force's Labour Code trial heard on Wednesday.

The document, written between December 2011 and August 2012, outlining the costs of acquiring carbine rifles for front-line officers, also stated the RCMP has a duty to protect members under Canada's Labour Code.

The RCMP is on trial in connection with Justin Bourque's deadly shooting rampage in a residential area of Moncton's north end on June 4, 2014.

4 alleged violations of code

The police force is charged with violating four provisions of the Canada Labour Code by allegedly failing to provide members with appropriate use-of-force equipment and training for responding to an active threat or active shooting event, and failing to ensure the health and safety of every person employed by the force.​​​

Crown prosecutor Paul Adams had Insp. Larry Brookson read the internal document aloud for the Moncton courtroom during cross-examination.

Earlier in the day, during direct examination by the defence, Brookson testified that arming front-line officers with carbine weapons was "priority one" for him in 2011.

But ​getting project approval and funding required risk assessment, said Brookson.

"It took a while, but it's those boxes that needed to be checked off."

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On Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Kevin Brosseau also testified that rolling out C8 carbines to officers was a high priority in 2011 when he was working on the file.

Brookson, ​who took over from Brosseau, in charge of the RCMP's use-of-force program at Contract and Aboriginal Policing, walked the court through what needed to be done before officers had the powerful semi-automatic weapons in their hands.

He said securing the budget, training, policies, carrying racks, and ammunition were all examples of what needed to be discussed and planned for.

There were also delays at Colt Canada, the supplier, he said.

Even finding space inside the average RCMP vehicle was an issue, said Brookson.

The RCMP did manage to put in a bulk order for 375 carbines in 2011, but by February 2012 the plan was revised and scaled down to 125 guns, he said.

About 300 carbines would have cost about $1 million at the time, said Brookson, who left the position in mid-June 2013.

"The cost of ammunition is equal to just the frame of the carbine," he said.

On Tuesday, an expert on police militarization in the United States, testified that arming police with high-powered rifles, such as carbines, can actually reduce safety for the public and officers.

Peter Kraska, a professor at Eastern Kentucky University, said if citizens see officers as occupiers, it can result in more violence.

The militarization culture can also be seductive to some officers, he said.

The trial started on April 24. About two months have been set aside.

Each of the four charges carries a maximum fine of $1 million.

Bourque is serving five life sentences with no chance of parole for 75 years after pleading guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.