A policing expert recommended Friday that Winnipeg police factor in age and someone’s cultural background when responding to high-risk situations.
Peter Rampat, a former Toronto officer and an instructor at the Ontario Police College, testified at an ongoing fatality inquest into the police-shooting death of a 16-year-old First Nations girl.
Rampat said the Winnipeg Police Service’s use-of-force policy doesn’t take into account recently developed de-escalation tactics, scenario-based training, alternative options as well as someone’s age, ethnicity or ability to carry out a threat.
Eishia Hudson was shot in April 2020, after officers responded to reports of a liquor store robbery and chased a stolen Jeep that Eishia was driving.
The inquest has heard the vehicle rammed a police cruiser and hit other vehicles during the pursuit before an officer fired two shots.
“This is both a tragic situation, and a complicated and challenging situation for anybody involved,” said Rampat.
“I try to bring balance to the conversation… I think it starts with training. That’s where it starts. Good solid training, rooted to best practice, national standards.”
Const. Kyle Pradinuk previously testified that he shot at the Jeep’s driver because he believed fellow officers could have been hit by the moving vehicle.
Rampat told court this week that Pradinuk’s actions were not reasonable and consistent with training policies. Rampat said the harm the officer caused the girl exceeded the harm he was trying to avoid.
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Rampat said de-escalation tactics are important when looking at ways to avoid use of force.
“You can’t just look at a subject’s behaviour and say, ‘I can automatically go to a force option.’ You must consider: ‘What else can I do? Is that a good option? Is it a viable option right now? Or will it put me or someone else in jeopardy?”’ he told the inquest.
The service should also expand its training to include techniques like tactical breathing and mindfulness, which help to improve decision-making, said Rampat.
It should also incorporate real-life examples into its training, he added.
Issues of race and age have been prominent topics throughout the inquest. Police had initially identified the robbery suspects as Indigenous and between the ages of 15 and 18.
Rampat said age and race should have been considered when officers were deciding whether to use force.
Younger people are “more prone to panic, to knee-jerk reactions. Their inhibitions are much, much lower. So you must be aware of that,” he said.
The inquest is not only examining whether the officer’s use of force was appropriate but also whether systemic racism played a role in the shooting.
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Rampat testified he couldn’t say whether the shooting was a result of systemic racism.
His conclusion contradicted evidence given in March from another use-of-force expert who said Pradinuk was following police protocol and training.
The inquest heard from Chris Butler, who was retained by Manitoba’s police watchdog as part of its investigation into the shooting, which was completed in 2021.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba didn’t recommend criminal charges, based in part on Butler’s opinion that Pradinuk’s actions were consistent with police practices.
Butler testified that the service’s use-of-force policy is consistent with other jurisdictions.
Rampat took issue with that assessment, because Butler didn’t use cellphone video that appears to show the Jeep backing away from officers. Butler told the inquest he was hesitant to rely on video evidence from witnesses because it could be altered or corrupted.
During cross-examination Friday, Winnipeg police lawyer Kimberly Carswell argued that Rampat excluded relevant information in his report.
Carswell questioned why Rampat didn’t include some of the witness evidence and the accounts of others in the Jeep when making his analysis.
“The reasonableness of this perception that there is a threat that existed is backed up by numerous witness statements, which say the same. How did you not deal with that in your report?” she asked.
“I guess that’s an oversight on my part,” Rampat responded.
Eishia’s death sparked protests and calls for a public inquiry into police-related deaths of Indigenous Peoples. She was one three First Nations people killed in a 10-day period in Winnipeg that year.
Inquests don’t assign blame but can issue recommendations to help prevent similar deaths.
100% agree with you Trixie
Police do not need training on how to deal with people who rob and steel parents need to take responsibility for how they raise their children.
I’m sick and tired of hearing that they had a hard life and blame everyone else for our actions. Not all are raised in a great home but we don’t use this as an excuse to break the law. You have the same opportunities as everyone else go to school and get a job. Stop expecting a free ride.
Their training is just fine. It’s some other people who need training. Like to not rob liquor stores and try to run over the police while you’re trying to get away. A criminal is a criminal, no matter the age or the race. Don’t wanna get shot? Don’t break the law!
poor expert? Did not use all evidence
FA’d and FO!! No loss.
All the blame and shaming this “Mother” is pointing needs to be turned around right back to her. Had you been a responsible role model for your daughter I think things would have looked alot different . She was raised in a house of crime… They call down the Police and authority then think they are above the law. Take what inst theirs and continue to rob and steal. I’m saddened this child had to pay in the end for a life she was encouraged to live. What a sad mess
This should not be about cultural background this is what happens when you rob a store, steel a vehicle and drive recklessly. People need to understand and take responsibility instead of trying to make it about race using that as an excuse for their actions. This has now become a constant excuse to commit crimes.
No it is not the police that needs ” training”, it is the parents, the youth and the Aboriginal community!!!! She harmed, stole, threatened & harmed & assaulted people and people’s lives & property!! She, her crew, parents and community show/showed no respect for the law or police. Who do I blame? I blame the parents and Aboriginal community not the police!! She could have killed a police member or anyone with her disregard and selfish reckless behavior. Eishia and her community brought it all on themselves and the police were only doing their job in the interests of the law and public safety. Aboriginals bellyache all the time about something but defending Eishia’s behavior and condemning the police is irresponsible behavior and shows poor character. For those of us who witnessed the event?? WE ATE DISGUSTED AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CONDONE ACTIONS LIKE EISHIA’S AND HER CREW & SO CALLED “COMMUNITY”!! FOR SHAME! Her community is just as guilty!! If that had been a White, there would have been NO condoning of criminal action, only prison. This two tier justice system and the Aboriginals thinking they have superiority and getting away with so much that the rest of us can’t is absolutely enough to make taxpayers anger and not trust/associate. Hear that Wab Kinew? Stop the inequality and lawlessness!!!
Hudson’s Mom was selling the booze her daughter was stealing on Kijiji and her Dad has an arm’s length rap sheet. Maybe they should have spent time being positive role models to their children and Aesha wouldn’t have found herself behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle filled with stolen goods trying to run people down in the course of trying to evade police. But no, I guess the police are the problem. I shake my head!