CPS statement following ASIRT decision - January 2016 OIS

The decision made by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) in regards to a January 2016 officer-involved shooting reaffirms that our members took actions that were reasonable and necessary.

This prolonged and dynamic incident, where a despondent, wheelchair-bound man randomly fired more than 30 shots from inside his home, speaks to the challenging situations our officers face every day. And each day, they rise to the occasion and protect the citizens of our city with integrity and courage.

Our officers displayed great professionalism and patience in dealing with someone whose mental health, as stated by ASIRT, played an enormous role in the unfortunate outcome. All attempts were made to peacefully resolve the situation, but forced to protect the community and colleagues, a decision was made to stop the threat.

Thousands of times a year, we respond to calls for those with addictions or mental health issues. The overwhelming majority of these calls end with us being able to deescalate the situation and engage the appropriate partner agencies to assist in getting help to our community’s most vulnerable.

This call fell outside the realm of deescalation. Facing high-risk dynamics, all steps were taken to contain the situation, eventually leading to few tactical alternatives.

The grief being endured by the family is not lost on the members of the Calgary Police Service. In our duty to protect public safety, we always strive for a resolution that preserves life.