Advertisement

Decision not to charge Vancouver officer in fatal shooting reignites mental health debate

Const. Lee Chipperfield of the Vancouver police shot Paul Boyd in August 2007, hitting him eight times, once in the head

A Vancouver police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a man with bipolar disorder will not face charges following the release of video of the incident, despite that video showing victim Paul Boyd kneeling unarmed at the time of the final shots.

It is just one recent case surrounding a fatal police shooting caught on tape, and the decision not to prosecute Const. Lee Chipperfield comes at a time when questions are being asked about how Canadian police forces interact with people suffering mental illnesses.

The Canadian Press reports that Chipperfield previously testified that he believed Boyd was armed at the time of the shooting, which came after a standoff with police involving a hammer and a bike chain. Boyd was bipolar and was not taking his medication in August 2007.

[Related: No charges in fatal Vancouver police shooting caught on tape ]

Chipperfield was previously cleared of charges, but the B.C. Criminal Justice Branch began reconsidering the case after receiving video of the incident. Chipperfield testified that he believed Boyd was armed with a bike chain when he fired the fatal shots, but the video shows Boyd crawling on the ground without the chain before the ninth and final shot.

The B.C. Criminal Justice Branch elected not to charge Chipperfield on the grounds that, even with the new video evidence, it was fair for the officer to argue self-defence.

"If Const. Chipperfield was prosecuted for an offence alleging culpable homicide, a reasonable doubt on the issue of self-defence would require an acquittal," reads a statement from the B.C. Criminal Justice Branch.

"The evidence made available to the special prosecutor in this case was that Const. Chipperfield personally believed resort to lethal force was necessary to preserve himself and others from death or grievous bodily harm."

Said Vancouver Chief Const. Jim Chu:

As I have from the beginning of this tragic incident, I would like to once again extend our sincere regrets and condolences to the Boyd family for their loss. No police officer ever comes to work with the intent of taking a life. This incident was difficult and sad for everyone involved.

[ More Brew: Suzanne Somers takes on Canadian hospital wait times ]

This is all very reminiscent of the case involving Const. James Forcillo, a Toronto officer who has been charged in the shooting death of Sammy Yatim. The death of Yatim, shot multiple times while alone on board a streetcar, rejuvenated the ongoing conversation about how police treat suffering mental illness or distress.

Chief Bill Blair tasked a former judge with reviewing how Toronto police treat those who are emotionally disturbed, and – independent of all of this – there is an ongoing coroner's inquest into three separate deaths of people with mental health issues who were shot and killed by police.

Police across Canada are trained on mental health issues. Speak softly, move slowly. But these things often conflict with the reaction any human has when facing an armed assailant. It is up to the officer to be capable of shifting into support mode, when every cell in their body is urging fight or flight.

No police officer goes to work with the intent of taking a life, but their duties force them on a daily basis to make that choice. With so much riding on the decision, they should be held to the highest possible standard.

Want to know what news is brewing in Canada?
Follow @MRCoutts on Twitter.