MONTREAL – Justice Minister Peter MacKay is rejecting a call for an in-depth examination of police and justice system protocols in the wake of the shootings of two Mounties in Alberta.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said last weekend a review may be in order because the suspected shooter was a free man despite a violent criminal history. But MacKay says a full-blown examination or royal commission or some sort of a study will not provide the answers we need.
READ MORE: RCMP seeking ‘accountability’ after Alberta RCMP shooter released from jail
MacKay said the answers lie in crime prevention, dealing with people who feel disconnected and marginalized and providing police with the tools and laws they need.
Constable David Wynn was in hospital since he was gunned down early Saturday morning and passed away Wednesday morning.
Auxiliary Constable Derek Bond was shot in the arm and torso and faces a long recovery.
The suspected shooter, 34-year-old Shawn Rehn, was found dead in a rural home just hours after the two Mounties were shot at Apex Casino in the city of St. Albert. Court and parole board documents revealed Rehn had a history of assaults, weapons convictions, break-ins and drug use going back to his teens.
READ MORE: St. Albert RCMP shooter Shawn Rehn had ‘incredibly complex criminal history’
MacKay commented in Montreal after announcing more than $220,000 in federal funding for a centre that helps young offenders reintegrate into society.
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