The community safety officer (CSO) who punched Genesta Garson in the Thompson RCMP detachment cell block in January 2018 was cleared of any wrongdoing by an RCMP use-of-force expert when the City of Thompson was informed of the incident seven months after the fact.
The city said in a Nov. 10 press release that neither the mayor nor the city manager at the time were informed about the incident until August 2018 when Manitoba Justice contacted the city’s director of fire and public safety about it. The public safety director then contacted the RCMP, who told him the safety officer had been cleared of any inappropriate actions by the RCMP’s use-of-force expert.
Security footage of the incident from the Thompson RCMP cells obtained by CBC was not provided to the city at that time and the current administration is viewing parts of it for the first time. The full video will be reviewed and the appropriate response determined once it is received through the courts as part of lawsuit proceedings against the city, the RCMP, the CSOs and an RCMP constable.
Noting that there have been significant changes among city council and in the city administration since the incident occurred nearly three years ago, the press release noted several changes that have been made regarding the community safety officer program since that time. As of May 2020, supervision of the CSOs in the responsibility of the public safety manager, who ensures proper oversight and that mandated training, including use-of-force and cultural proficiency training, is completed. City manager Anthony McInnis will conduct an investigation into the incident with the public safety manager and the city’s human resources department and has asked that the RCMP immediately inform him and the public safety manager of any future use-of-force incidents.
Other steps have been taken to change the way public safety in general and incidents involving alcohol abuse are addressed in Thompson, including the development of a public safety and community well-being strategy in consultation with 20 community organizations and the help of independent consultants Community Safety Knowledge Alliance. Central to this strategy is reducing the role of conventional law enforcement in addressing mental health and public intoxication. Other priorities include lessening youth exposure to crimes as victims, witnesses and perpetrators; reducing factors driving demand on police resources from social disorder calls; enhancing experiences of social inclusion and justice and reducing systemic racism and other forms of racism; expanding safe and attainable housing and shelter options for people experiencing vulnerabilities; and renewing and better maintaining the environment in Thompson to improve how people can connect to strengthen social cohesion.
The province has also committed $2.8 million towards the establishment of a sobering centre in Thompson to provide a safe and secure space for non-violent intoxicated people to sober up under trained supervision. This, the city says, will reduce the involvement of law enforcement in dealing with intoxicated people and help connect those addicted to alcohol with social services that can help them address their addictions.
“We need to recognize that we are working to fix issues over three decades in the making, but with a sustained, committed effort, we will see a safer, healthier Thompson,” said Mayor Colleen Smook.
