USE OF FORCE A FRACTION OF INTERACTION

0.1 per cent of Canadian police cases involve officers resorting to
force

Deputy Chief Rick Lucy addressed the issue at Tuesday's police board
meeting, saying it is timely because of recent high-profile situations.

This week, Abbotsford Police completed their investigation into
whether a Kelowna RCMP officer used excessive force with a man who was
kicked in the head during his arrest. The incident was captured on
video by a news reporter.

Police have recommended that Const. Geoff Mantler be charged with
assault causing bodily harm.

Also this week, a public hearing was ordered into the conduct of two
Abbotsford police officers.

Lucy said use of force is inevitable on occasion, but the onus is on
the officer to ensure the tactics used are "lawful, justified and
appropriate.

"It is all built on the premise that we are, first and foremost, here
to protect people," he said.

Lucy said police have a number of responses they can use when dealing
with a difficult or aggressive subject. These include firearms, pepper
spray, batons, Tasers, beanbag shotguns, and their hands. Training,
depending on the weapon, is done on an annual or bi-annual basis.

Lucy said some use-of-force situations can look harsh to the
public.

"It's often done very aggressively .... this can look ugly. There's
just no way around that."

He said circumstances can change quickly, and an officer might react
differently from how a colleague would.

"Most of the time, the officer's presence and good use of dialogue is
the end of the story."

Two Abbotsford Police officers became the subjects of a YouTube video
while they were making an arrest on Oct. 9, 2009.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) issued notice
last Friday of the public hearing for Const. Doug Lemna and Const.
Daryle Young. A hearing date and location have not yet been set.

The two officers were carrying out a foot patrol in Ravine Park in
Abbotsford when they witnessed what appeared to be a drug transaction
in a driveway across the street. Two suspects were ordered to the ground.

Lemna, who was an acting sergeant at the time, applied force to the
head and body of one of them, the notice states.

It also states that Young stepped on the back of the same suspect's
knees, and also applied force with his knee to the man's lower back.

The Abbotsford Police Department conducted an internal investigation
into the matter and issued its ruling on Dec. 15.

Chief Bob Rich concluded that the allegation of abuse of authority by
Lemna was not substantiated.

He concluded that one allegation of the use of unnecessary force was
warranted in relation to Young.

The OPCC can schedule a hearing when it believes the matter needs
further investigation. It will also determine what, if any,
disciplinary action will be issued.

Police complaint commissioner Stan Lowe stated in the notice, after
reviewing the investigation and the conclusions, that a public hearing
was necessary to "preserve or restore public confidence in the
investigation of misconduct and the administration of police
discipline."

Lemna was also charged last March with assault in relation to a
different incident. That matter is still before the courts.

Another Abbotsford police officer, Const. Alex Wood, faces a public
hearing this week. The matter was scheduled to begin today(Wednesday)
and conclude Friday at the Robson Square Courthouse.

The hearing will consider whether Wood used excessive force when
confiscating a digital camera in April 2008.

Abbotsford resident Jonathan Peters accused Wood of breaking his
finger while seizing his camera.