The family of an Ontario man who died after calling 911 have been told they can’t lay out their concerns to officials overseeing local police.
For more than a year, Rick Buerger and Christine Stark have been fighting for answers about the death of their brother Ralph in the Niagara area.
Early on the morning of Aug. 30, 2024, Ralph called 911, apparently to ask for emergency help, unable to speak in a call that lasted 35 seconds.
The call did not trigger a wellness check from police or paramedics, and Ralph, 59, was found dead in the morning.
Since that day, Rick and Christine have been trying to work out why the police didn’t check on their brother. They’ve requested investigations and are asking for changes to the system to stop a similar situation from ever occurring again.
The pair have found their quest for answers from Niagara Regional Police frustrating, feeling that barriers have been erected to slow them at every turn.
Police previously told the family they would have to use freedom of information laws to access a copy of the recording of the 911 call their brother made. After questions from Global News, the call was eventually released.
Police also refused to give the family a copy of an investigation into the incident that cleared the call operator and police of making a mistake when Ralph died.
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The latest hurdle Rick says he faces is a refusal from the Niagara Police Service Board to allow him to share his story and the lessons he believes the force should learn.
The police service board governs the force, sets its budget and makes broad policy decisions that the chief and other senior officers then implement.
Rick, who lives abroad, flew back to Ontario to present to the board early this year. He said he wanted to share the details of his brother’s death, how the police had handled it and two policy changes to avoid it ever being repeated.
Specifically, he wants to see regular hearing tests for 911 operators and the mandatory introduction of noise-cancelling headsets.
“We were told during (a) meeting that 911 call takers don’t go through any hearing tests, only when they’re hired,” he explained. “I said, ‘Wow, they should go through periodic tests.’”
Rick added he’d been told by senior police that call takers also don’t have noise-cancelling headphones.
“It’s impossible not to have a noise cancelling with one earpiece. But they told us they don’t have, so that’s what I put in the deputation,” he said. “Now, they don’t want that heard … they don’t want to have it because they know they’re going to get in sh**.”
The board has refused to let him speak at a meeting, citing various other ongoing complaints he has about his brother’s death.
Deb Reid, the executive director of the Niagara Police Service Board, told Global News the body had corresponded “extensively” with Rick and “clearly” explained why they cannot hear his concerns.
“The Board’s decision is not discretionary, nor is it intended to diminish his concerns,” Reid wrote. “It is based on the Board’s statutory obligations under the Community Safety and Policing Act.”
She said legislation requires police complaints to be forwarded to other investigating bodies, meaning the events around Ralph’s death fall beyond the scope of the board.
Rick said he knew some parts of his presentation may need to be scrapped if they are seen to refer to ongoing investigations, but he would like to at least present on what he believes are urgent changes.
“They’re not even willing to do that,” he said.
Reid suggested that even if the presentation appears to deal with broader rules, it still links back to an active complaint.
“The resubmitted deputation request, although framed as policy, remains substantively connected to a matter under active external review,” she wrote.
Christine said the family had gone into the process hoping to make sure no one suffers the same tragedy they have.
“When we originally started this, I would have thought the police would have welcomed this because we were looking at trying to help them,” she said.
“We were trying to help them get policies in place, look at what the gaps were, what the areas of concern were, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
The battles they’ve spent almost two years fighting have tested her resolve.
“Has this soured me? It has, I’m not going to lie,” Christine added.
Police in Ontario, doctors in Ontario are killing ppl left right and centre and the don’t even care to improve!! Try to do something about it, everyone hides. My condolences go out to you and your family. I’m sorry this happened.
Nrp are so corrupted. It’s not even funny. They are dirty here and this is probably why they gave him the runaround. This is why our NRP needs to be investigated. There’s been quite a few incidents with nrp and nothing’s been checked on their background
To the “Retired 911 operator”…. How many BJs have you given through your career. How many times have you put out on the night shift?
You are a rotten human being and I hope you die slowly in a house fire.
Don’t give up, till you get the answers you deserve. You have every right. Good luck my condolences
Niagara, regional police are one of the most corrupt police forces in Ontario.
If you are in a hostage situation.. it would be logical that you couldn’t speak while on a call. That’s why they trace the location on dead calls.. this is due to negligence and only negligence.. as the nrp obviously know considering their response.
Mary your comment is wrong
There WAS banging and rhythmic breathing sounds throughout the call!!!
To the retired 911 operator. One of the suggestions is better technology and regular hearing tests. Things can change for the better.
This is so obviously a legal ploy to ensure they don’t get sued! Ridiculous that as citizens you don’t have the right to voice your concerns and in this case, to prevent future deaths! What is our country turning into??
With the advent of cell phones, the amount of open lines where there is no sound is unfathomable to most people. Litetally about 10+ an hour. If the police spent all there time doing wellness checks or tracing these call, literally nothing would get done. There is a process for tracing cell calls. It is not always instantaneous. Its a judgemental call and unfortunately the outcome was not a good one.
It isnt TV. Technology is the issue, not corruption. Retired 911 operator
Im just confused why anyone is acting like they are surprised. This is ontario after all notorious for police corruption, as is being displayed in this article. That “board” needs to be re-evaluated or just plain disbanded and replaced with one qilling to hold responsible parties accountable. Niagara police have a bad history and for the governing body to sweep an invention under the rug and immediately side with them is asinine!
Ontario police are 100% corrupt
Outrageous!
Is most definitely was a tragic loss of life that most likely could have been prevented somebody most definitely needs to be held accountable for this more than likely preventable event. My condolences to the family. It truly is a tragedy. I am sorry for your loss.
Utmost, definitely is a very, very tragic loss of life. Probably could have been prevented.Most likely could have my condolences to the family, and they most definitely should pursue a legal recourse. This definitely needs somebody needs to be. Held accountable, for what happened?The loss of life there.I’m sorry for your loss, truly am
Obvious whitewash
I’m shocked. I always thought they made a call back and if no one answered a wellness check was done. I guess not true anymore?
That’s terrible. It will keeps happening because the police to protect and serve anymore. All they do is cases that look good to the public.
He can out his concerns and recommendations in writing and submit them if he wants to help.
If his relative called 911 and was unable to communicate, the best policy is to have an officer check at the call location. But the location doesn’t always come across clearly on the call. Sometimes it is an approximation which could cover several square kilometres.
They hate us white people
Why is the volume *for the 911 call not working*.
Why are people in these comments blamming the federal government when this would 100% be Ontario conservative government jurisdiction…
you can single earpiece headsets everywhere. I have been selling them for 40xyears. Just Google it.
If a 9-11 call comes in, and even if no one talks, someone needs to be dispatched. It could be someone is in danger for many reasons and they cannot talk. RESPOND
Has he considered hiring a lawyer?
Sick of these politicians and bureaucrats yet Canada ? When your ready for a change plenty of us are ready and willing to help do that
Funny. I’ve called 911 by accident. Hung up. And they called me back!! I would imagine if they did that and got a busy signal or no answer they would have to investigate personally…. No??? This is CLEARLY negligent and I hope this family gets some form of justice though; none will ever be enough as their brother’s life was lost at the hands of those we continue to trust to “serve and protect,” that seem to only give us more reason to question this as time moves forward.
Human reproduction at this point is a horrible plan. The future is terrifying more each day.
Thats what happens with liberals in power..hide the truth..obviously they dont care.
They know the dispatcher and the dept messed up. They will do whatever it takes to hide the truth.
Stall and block long enough problem goes away.
What happened to transparency? This is another pointer of the overall malaise in policing Canada wide. Can never get a proper response. So sad for families impacted.
I personally feel that this policing department, including the authorities which are incharge of our safety and well-being, they are just trying to get through their day; in reality. They have never been seen out patrolling in the snowing weather condition I have witnessed it nor anytime when its a cold rainy day/night. These so called “emergency responders” they just called themselves first line emergency workers just to get public attention and cooperation otherwise they are same as us civilians using the authority in wrongful ways. They carry weapons, ammunition, for what reason. For their own safety not for the safety of public. As we just witnessed the hidden Criminals hiding in uniforms are unfolded which provides us with a clear statement that these officers and officials are the ones Playing part in the destruction of the community by funding other criminal activities