RCMP lacked proper carbines, shooting ranges for training officers, trial hears

RCMP didn't have enough carbines or adequate shooting ranges to train officers in how to use the weapons, an official with the national force testified Thursday at the RCMP trial in Moncton on Labour Code violations.

Joanne Rigon, the acting director general of learning and development with the RCMP, was called as a defence witness at the trial on violations related to the shooting of five Moncton Mounties on June 4, 2014.

RCMP in Moncton were equipped only with pistols and shotguns that night, when Justin Bourque killed three constables and wounded two others. 

Several Crown witnesses testified carbines could have made a difference in the RCMP's response to the rampage. Carbines are semi-automatic, short-barrelled rifles that have a longer and more accurate range than a pistol or shotgun.

But Rigon testified there were problems developing a new training training program in carbines.

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Ten carbines were available but more were needed and they had to be designated for training only, she said.

There were also few shooting ranges in Canada built to handle the shooting needed for the training, she said.

In a pilot course, training took five days, with part of it done while officers wore hard body armour. The course training standard was developed by June 19, 2013, but it needed approval from the RCMP legal department.

"Unfortunately it takes time," Rigon said.

A final pilot training course was completed by November 2013, she said.

OPP carbines 'not apropriate' for RCMP

Earlier in the day, the court heard testimony from Richard Poaps, a senior armourer with the RCMP and an expert in firearms and ballistics, who said carbines used by the Ontario Provincial Police were not appropriate for the national police force.

In his role as senior armourer, Poaps is involved with research and development, testing firearms and ballistics and was called as a witness to give a demonstration about carbines.

Poaps stressed that not all carbines are the same, and caution must be used before a force the size of the RCMP is equipped with them.

Carbines used by the OPP, for instance, lacked accuracy at 150 metres, he said.

"It would not have met our needs," he said.

An ambidextrous trigger

Poaps also highlighted some differences between the force's general duty carbine and the ones used by the emergency response team. One difference was the an ambidextrous trigger guard on the general duty weapon that until recently the emergency response team's carbines didn't have.

Poaps also said it was important to look at the ammunition used in firearms, not just at the firearms themselves.

"It's like a paperweight ... if the bullet does do not do what it's supposed to do," said Poaps.

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.​​​

Bourque was armed with an M305.308 semi-automatic rifle and a Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun when he fatally shot constables Douglas Larche, Dave Ross, and Fabrice Gevaudan, and wounded constables Darlene Goguen and Eric Dubois.

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​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.