WATCH ABOVE: The wife of a fallen RCMP officer is speaking out today, calling for tougher restrictions on bail. Tom Vernon explains.
EDMONTON — MP for Edmonton-St. Albert Brent Rathgeber has tabled Bill C-686, a Private Members’ Bill seeking tighter rules for judicial interim release.
The Bill is known as “Dave Wynn’s Law”, in honour of the St. Albert RCMP officer who was fatally shot inside a Casino on January 17.
Bill C-686 would amend the Criminal Code to tighten the rules of the bail process by “requiring the prosecution to lead evidence that the accused has previous conviction, has outstanding criminal charges, or has previously failed to appear in court when required to do so.” (The full bill is posted below).
Const. Wynn’s wife attended an event about the bill on Monday afternoon, showing her support for the legislation.
“As terrible as this is, there’s got to be some changes and things that will be better in the future and Dave would have been proud of that and very pleased,” said Shelley MacInnis-Wynn.
“He would come home sometimes, frustrated, because there was those little loopholes in the system that they would work so hard but then things were torn apart on the other end,” she added.
MacInnis-Wynn said she has been taking things one day at a time since her husband’s death. She said she wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of her family, friends and community.
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“I think Dave would think would think this is the best honour that he could receive.”
“I am thankful to have the support of the Wynn family for this legislation,” said Rathgeber. “It is tragic that it took this horrific situation to bring attention to the loopholes in our Judicial Interim Release process.”
“It is a mystery how some individuals who have no respect for the law or the courts make bail.
“I hope by tightening the rules of interim release for habitual offenders, all of society will be protected,” Rathgeber said.
READ MORE: RCMP seeking accountability after Alberta RCMP shooter released from jail
Wynn, 42, and Auxiliary Const. Derek Bond, 49, had just identified a truck with licence plates that didn’t match registration, when 34-year-old Shawn Maxwell Rehn fired at the officers at close range. Rehn’s body was later found at a nearby residence, dead of an apparent suicide.
Documents show that Rehn was released on bail as recently as Sept. 13, 2014. He faced 15 charges at the time, including possessing stolen property, possessing a controlled substance, possessing a prohibited firearm and escaping lawful custody.
Rehn’s bail totaled $4,500, and he was released on certain conditions. He then failed to show up in court and a warrant for his arrest was issued on November 12, 13 and 28 last year.
Rehn, 34, had a lengthy rap sheet of close to 60 convictions dating back to 1999, including break and enter, assault with a weapon, theft, and gun charges.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson blamed the justice system for releasing Rehn.
“When an offender has a demonstrated pattern of not attending court and not complying with orders he needs to be (h)eld!” Paulson wrote in a statement to Global News in January.
Paulson said it was not a matter of expanding police powers, but rather “a case management of the justice system issue.” He said considering Rehn’s history, he should not have been conditionally released at all.
WATCH: St. Albert RCMP shooter Shawn Rehn had ‘incredibly complex criminal history’
Bill C-686 would also alter the current wording of the Criminal Code section for Judicial Interim Release, or bail, to read:
“The prosecutor shall, in addition to any other relevant evidence, lead evidence” (of previous criminality) rather than “may.”
Rathgeber said this change would ensure the presiding JP or judge has all the information needed to make an informed decision on an accused’s bail hearing.
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