The Saskatchewan RCMP released a report Thursday outlining a series of recommendations based on the organization's response to the 2022 James Smith Cree and Weldon massacres.
In September 2022, Myles Sanderson was sentenced and then went on a stabbing spree in two communities, kicking in doors and killing people. Eleven people were killed and 17 were injured.
Inquiry into the deaths of James Smith Cree and Weldon
Eleven suggestions The RCMP made recommendations in January as part of an investigation into the deaths of 11 people by Sanderson. The recommendations were intended to improve how the RCMP handles mass casualty incidents, including the manhunt for Sanderson.
During the January inquest, the jury made three recommendations to the RCMP, and the coroner made eight more recommendations.
Recommendation: Police databases must show the date of suspect photos, and the system should be able to pull information from government databases
On the night of the mass casualty incident in September 2022, police issued alerts to the public, one of which included the erroneous photo of Sanderson, prompting recommendations from the jury and coroner to use technology to ensure officers had access to up-to-date photos of suspects.
The RCMP said it will be implementing a system going forward to ensure all photos have an identifiable number showing when the photo was taken.
The RCMP said officers will also be able to pull photos from government databases, including SGI, the police RMS and private source photos from in-vehicle workstations, in the next fiscal year.
Recommendation: RCMP vacancies should be adequately staffed across all departments
The coroner recommended that the RCMP take all reasonable steps to ensure the Warrant Enforcement and Strike Team (WEST), Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT) are adequately staffed, and that each department consider expanding staffing.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police says those forces have vacancy rates of 20 to 40 per cent and any expansion would require more resources from the provincial government.
It is currently expected that 1,280 new RCMP applicants will enter training in the 2024-25 fiscal year, and 1,600 new applicants will enter training in the following two years.
The RCMP noted that, given current vacancies, requests for expansion within departments are not feasible.
Recommendation: Distribute a list of 60 wanted offenders to all RCMP detachments at least quarterly each year, with domestic violence offenders ranking high
Miles Sanderson He had been unlawfully at large in the months leading up to the killings because he had violated statutory conditions of his release.
The system uses a process to score and prioritize offenders who are unlawfully at large or who have outstanding warrants for a violent crime issued by the RCMP. Domestic violence is not currently included in the prioritization matrix.
The RCMP said it is looking into adding domestic violence to the priority matrix but said it is a manual task with a high workload. Until a more efficient process is found, every offender will be manually investigated and have a mark on their record indicating a history of domestic violence.
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A list of the top ten most wanted criminals is distributed monthly to the chief officers of the two warrant enforcement and suppression teams, but from March 2024, it is also distributed to detachment officers in the offender’s area, including the warrant status and the severity of the offence.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said that as a next step, they will also develop monthly suspect reports that will rank offenders based on their history of violent crime in the past 18 months.
Recommendation: When a “most wanted criminal” has ties to a Saskatchewan First Nation, leadership should be informed of the individual's identity
The RCMP said national policy already addresses the practice, adding that enhancements to the most violent offenders and wanted lists will allow for greater collaboration between the RCMP and Indigenous leadership.
The RCMP said detachment commanders will receive instructions next month on when they can hold discussions with Indigenous leaders to ensure they know if violent offenders have links to or are affiliated with Indigenous people. Live in their communities. This will be done after the commander reviews the latest list of criminals with active warrants or on the run.
Miles Sanderson Death Investigation
Sanderson was convicted on September 7, 2022 Cocaine overdose He was detained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police a short time later.
one An investigation into his death Held in Saskatoon in late February 2024, the jury made three recommendations to the RCMP after watching and hearing a detailed description of his arrest.
Recommendation: RCMP consider implementing mandatory enhanced driver training, including pit stop operations
During the inquest into Sanderson's death, the jury watched footage from Constable Heidi Marshall's car camera as she drove Sanderson's stolen car off the road and eventually caught him.
According to RCMP leadership, Marshall performs a pit stop Despite her lack of tactical training, her performance was flawless.
The jury recommended that officers be trained in pit maneuvers, but the RCMP said pit maneuvers at speeds exceeding 80 kilometres per hour are considered the use of deadly force and pose a danger to the public in the area.
“The intended outcome is the death of the driver,” the report said. “These measures are only considered in exigent circumstances where there is a threat to life or serious bodily harm and are only used with the approval of the pursuit supervisor following a full risk assessment and taking into account the entirety of the circumstances.”
The RCMP says the Advanced Emergency Vehicle Operator course is currently being updated across the country and will be looking into the possibility of incorporating the dangerous maneuver into officers' driving training.
Recommendation: Consider additional training on enhanced extraction techniques during arrest
During the trial, the jury watched as RCMP officers pulled Sanderson from his stolen car after it had gone off the road and into a ditch. Sanderson was obscured by the airbag, and police said it was difficult to tell if he had a weapon in his hands.
The RCMP said formal officer training already covers life-saving techniques, including safely extracting suspects from vehicles in high-risk incidents.
Recommendation: RCMP review standard policy on high-speed pursuits
The RCMP says the criteria for high-speed pursuits are currently determined by national policy and that pursuits are only authorized after a risk assessment based on evolving circumstances.
“The revised policy is designed to be less restrictive in justifying the need to continue a pursuit,” the report states. “This policy revision includes the implementation of a mandatory online training course in Emergency Vehicle Operations, which includes a module on conducting and applying pursuit-related risk assessments.”
RCMP review and report on mass casualty homicides
Following an extensive review of its response to the incident, the RCMP compiled a detailed report on the actions taken by officers during the incident. Three-day event and examined areas where the organization could improve.
Recommendations related to the RCMP initial response
At the time of the massacre, there were only two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers patrolling the First Nations community. The situation reportedly developed so quickly that the two officers were separated for a time, putting them at a tactical disadvantage.
At times, the officers were about 12 kilometres apart and reception at the James Smith Cree Nation was poor.
The RCMP noted that there is currently no national policy guidance on the issue of one- or two-person patrols.
As a result, the RCMP is considering additional training for one- to two-person patrol car responses, including allocation of resources and risk discussions when only two officers are able to respond to the initial scene.
“The most obvious solution is to deploy as many officers and patrol vehicles as possible at all times; however, the reality is that this is rarely the case in today's rural policing environment,” the report said.
The RCMP also recommended that the detachment commander encourage other officers to regularly visit the James Smith Cree Nation for patrols or other events to strengthen relationships within the community.
Recommendations related to the Major Crimes Unit’s response
In a review of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit and its response to homicides, the RCMP recommended more resources be provided for forensic services at such large-scale scenes.
During the James Smith Cree incident, the Forensic Identification Services unit was responsible for processing more than 40 separate crime scenes and more than 700 exhibits. The unit also participated in 10 autopsies.
As a result, the RCMP has suggested exploring the possibility of using civilian resources to help process the exhibits and permanently stationing personnel in the exhibition hall.
For crime scenes, the RCMP said it would consider purchasing inflatable tents or additional fabric walls for forensic services to protect evidence and provide more dignity to the deceased when processing the scene.
The RCMP also said they intend to improve communication between tip coordinators and apprehension teams to assist in allocating resources.
Recommendations for mass casualty and victim response
The RCMP said victim services could be improved because of the tragic impact the incident had on the community.
The RCMP recommends that more officers and supervisors receive specialized training on mass casualty incidents, including areas such as deployment and reporting structures, documentation processes and family liaison functions.
The RCMP will consider producing a document for distribution to all departments outlining cultural considerations in order to provide appropriate and respectful support to the victims’ families.
A victim “support kit” was also recommended, which included documents, pre-printed support brochures in multiple languages and program referral links.
The RCMP noted that two separate reviews are ongoing to determine the preventability of the incident. Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board of Canada. The review will focus on Sanderson's statutory release and community supervision.
The RCMP said they will review the report once it comes in.
