In Self-Defence

In Canada, as in most western, civilized democratic countries of the world, citizens like to think of the police as being society's lawful protectors of public safety and private security. For the most part we trust those who find their vocation and their professional life in being part of a police force. On any level; municipal, provincial, federal.

We think of police and what they assure us within our society with a sense of trust and satisfaction that they are present, and we are relatively safe because of their mission - to serve and protect.

They are human, just as the rest of us are. They are, in our modern era, and in our civilized society, representative of public reliance on the assurance of lawfulness, order and secure management at every level. They have a respected role to play in society and for the most part they do it fairly well.

There are times, however when some among them seem to lack sensitivity and a certain level of sensibility and the public, in recognition of these lapses, protests and demands a re-set. In these enlightened times police forces are charged with knowing something about human psychology and the manner in which best to control ugly situations where violence is present.

Without doubt, there exist rogue elements within police forces and sometimes they betray their presence, sometimes what they do is subtle enough to escape the notice of the public, and if their colleagues know, solidarity often rules. Those among the forces who take it upon themselves to destroy public trust by their brutal conduct and contempt for others do no favours to any of us.

There is a civil trial pending by a woman who lives in a Bells Corners townhouse. Lisa Olszewski has launched a civil suit revolving around a violently traumatic event that changed her life five years ago. The occasion was an Ottawa police search of her home in what she describes in her lawsuit as a "wanton and reckless manner, with blatant disregard to her property and to her dogs".

For thirteen hours on September 13, 2006 her home was the scene of a stakeout. Police were convinced, despite her denials, that her friend, Trevor Provost, who was wanted with respect to domestic violence-related charges and for uttering threats was in her home. The police felt assured that this man was hiding out with Ms. Olszewski, at her townhouse on Richmond Road.

They hadn't a search warrant, but assigned several officers to keep watch on the townhouse that night. When they secured the search warrant the next morning and entered the townhouse they discovered that the man they were looking for was not present. And they assumed that he had managed, somehow, despite the presence of two officers on watch duty, to slip away at some juncture during the night.

Ms. Olszewski repeated that the man was not in the house. He was an individual whom she had dated.

A tactical team stormed the house on September 14. Ms. Olszewski claims she had been assured by police that her dogs would not be harmed. Her dogs were her companions and she loved them. Two pit bulls who would respond just like Chihuahuas or Toy Poodles if strangers entered the house by barking furiously and rushing toward the intruders; the house was, after all, their sanctuary, their home where they lived with the house owner, their trusted and loved person.

Seconds after the tactical team stormed the house using grenades called "flash-bang" types and gas canisters, gunshots could be heard. Ms. Olszewski hadn't been permitted to enter her home to restrain her dogs. Police officers made no effort to contact the humane society nor did they take any other steps to ensure the dogs' safety. A police spokesman claimed at the time that officers believed the dogs were trained to attack.

The police "teased, tortured and killed" the dogs "recklessly and without cause"; the wording of Ms. Oszewski's claim. In the claim Ms. Olszewski makes note that one of the officers urged her to "enjoy her dogs", as they left the house with the dead dogs. "When Ottawa police entered the plaintiff's residence, two pit bull dogs that were in the plaintiff's residence attempted to attack the Ottawa police officers", reads the police statement of defence.

"Accordingly the Ottawa police officers had no choice but to kill the dogs in self-defence."