An Alberta judge is recommending changes to how peace officers deal with mentally unstable people after the death of an officer in 2012.
Judge Bruce Fraser oversaw a fatality inquiry into the death of Rod Lazenby, 62, a peace officer for the Municipal District of Foothills who was attacked while responding to a call about dogs on a rural property south of Calgary.
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An autopsy found Lazenby was strangled and had 56 cuts and bruises to the face, head, neck, body and back. He also suffered numerous internal injuries.
Trevor Kloschinsky told officers he had apprehended a dog thief. He was charged with first-degree murder but was found not criminally responsible because a mental disorder meant he didn’t understand that what he was doing was wrong.
“It would appear (Lazenby) was unaware Kloschinsky was lying in wait for him and was prepared to attack him,” Fraser wrote in his report released Wednesday.
“It is unknown if he was aware that Kloschinsky was mentally unstable but having dealt with him previously he should have been.
“Undoubtedly he thought he could handle him alone. He was wrong and paid with his life.”
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Fraser said more caution is needed when peace officers deal with unpredictable individuals.
“No (peace officer) should attend for enforcement, a place where there is a known threat from a specific person or a known mentally unstable person or a known person prone to violence, on his own as Officer Lazenby did,” Fraser said.
Fraser recommends all municipalities require peace officers to inform dispatchers of their whereabouts and the purpose of their visit. He said there should also be a list of “flagged places” that could present a risk.
He said all officers should receive weapons and officer safety training. They should also be allowed to wear body armour and carry weapons including batons, pepper spray and handcuffs, he said.
READ MORE: Family of slain Alberta peace officer calls for changes to improve officer safety
Lazenby’s only weapon was a baton since he wasn’t designated a level one officer who could carry more protection.
“Any officer dealing with public enforcement, in my view, should be properly trained for officer safety and weapons training as well as defensive tactics,” Fraser wrote.
“Officer Lazenby should have had that training and been allowed to carry weapons as did level one officers. They both deal with an unknown public.”
A fatality inquiry may recommend how to prevent similar deaths, but cannot make any findings of legal responsibility.
Darlene Roblin, who worked with Lazenby and testified at the inquiry, said she supports the recommendations and hopes the province moves to put them in place.
“The four recommendations were kind of the key points that myself and others at the inquiry were trying to make to the court to hopefully get recommendations for some positive change,” Roblin, the protective services coordinator for the M.D. of Foothills, said Wednesday.
“We do Rod’s memory a disservice if we learn nothing from what happened.”
Jamie Erickson, past president of the Alberta Association of Community Peace Officers, also said he supported the measures that were put forward Wednesday. He called the recommendations “positive” change that would “enhance safety for peace officers in the province.”
Alberta’s director of law enforcement has the judge’s report and is reviewing it, according to a spokesperson with the province’s Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General.
“The safety of Alberta’s peace officers is very important to us,” the spokesperson’s statement read.
“We are determining how best to move forward in relation to the recommendations.”
— With files from Global News’ Joel Senick
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