Protest Outside OPP Detachment
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 5:40 am
Demonstration was about woman assaulted by an Orillia police officer in 2013.
(Orillia) - A noisy but peaceful demonstration outside the Orillia OPP detachment.
About 20 people were there on Monday to voice their displeasure that an officer assigned at the detachment was not charged in the assault of a civilian in 2013.
Detachment Commander Inspector Pat Morris says the protest went for about 90 minutes and there were no incidents.
He says they had media officers and the provincial liaison team outside to remind the protesters not to block access to the detachment in order for officers to respond to calls.
Morris says the investigations by the SIU and boards that oversee the policing are often too complex to the ordinary citizen.
He says they try to help out and make them better understand the situation.
Morris stresses that officers are there to serve the public and they answer to public and to the police services board.
He says there are infrastructures in place where there is oversight in the event an incident involving police goes badly.
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit determined that Sergeant Russell Watson should not face charges for assaulting Tonie Farrell on April 2, 2013.
Farrell was initially charged with obstructing police but the case was dismissed and the presiding judge was critical of Watson in his involvement.
Farrell tried to come to the aid of another woman who was beaten by several men that evening.
http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news ... wsID=72151
(Orillia) - A noisy but peaceful demonstration outside the Orillia OPP detachment.
About 20 people were there on Monday to voice their displeasure that an officer assigned at the detachment was not charged in the assault of a civilian in 2013.
Detachment Commander Inspector Pat Morris says the protest went for about 90 minutes and there were no incidents.
He says they had media officers and the provincial liaison team outside to remind the protesters not to block access to the detachment in order for officers to respond to calls.
Morris says the investigations by the SIU and boards that oversee the policing are often too complex to the ordinary citizen.
He says they try to help out and make them better understand the situation.
Morris stresses that officers are there to serve the public and they answer to public and to the police services board.
He says there are infrastructures in place where there is oversight in the event an incident involving police goes badly.
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit determined that Sergeant Russell Watson should not face charges for assaulting Tonie Farrell on April 2, 2013.
Farrell was initially charged with obstructing police but the case was dismissed and the presiding judge was critical of Watson in his involvement.
Farrell tried to come to the aid of another woman who was beaten by several men that evening.
http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news ... wsID=72151