Manitoba eagerly awaiting recommendations from inquest into men’s deaths: Wiebe

Manitoba’s new provincial government says it is eagerly awaiting recommendations from an inquest into the deaths of five men who passed away following police interactions in Winnipeg.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe says the Manitoba NDP will be examining the “whole package” of evidence entered into the courts.

“These are early days in our new government, but I will say it is one of the areas we want to move on, and instill confidence in the public with the justice system,” Wiebe said.

The inquest into the deaths of Michael Bagot, Patrick Gagnon, Sean Thompson, Matthew Fosseneuve and Randy Cochrane was ordered by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office to determine how future deaths of a similar nature can be prevented.

Manitoba’s police watchdog investigated all five fatal incidents and determined officers did not contribute to any of the deaths.

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In the four deaths examined so far over the last two weeks, all of the men – while distressed, agitated and under the influence – were either looking for or in need of help.

“We need to ensure that people feel confident in the justice system, that they are being respected within the justice system, so I think this an important first step,” said Wiebe.

Before they were arrested and restrained in separate incidents, Gagnon told police he had been drugged, Bagot was begging for help from a bus driver, Thompson could not stand of his own volition and Fossenueve called 911 looking for help with detox.

Cochrane’s death will be examined later this month.

Calls for public inquiry

In the four deaths looked into so far, court heard from families devastated by the losses, saying their loved ones needed medical attention – not police use of force.

Some are now calling for a public inquiry to address what they claim are larger issues with police responding to people in distress.

Wiebe says while it’s important to let the process unfold, once it does, the new government will be acting quickly.

“We want to make sure that we’re taking this information and we’re moving quickly with it, and we’re implementing any recommendations that come from it,” he said. “So certainly, these are not issues that are happening in isolation; we need to make sure whatever is happening, we are addressing.”

In the cases examined so far, members of the Winnipeg Police Service who have testified have been adamant their focus during the interactions was the safety of the men, officers, and the public. The men needed to be restrained in order to get medical attention, officers have said, as paramedics don’t respond to an unsafe scene.

Testifying WPS members say they feel police could not have done anything differently to save any of the men’s lives.