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First RCMP supervisor of N.S. mass shooting describes miscue in containing the killer
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HALIFAX — The Mountie who led the early response to the Nova Scotia mass shooting testified Monday that his plans to block the killer’s escape were thrown off by a subordinate’s “misunderstanding” and a crush of competing duties.
It was one of the miscues that Staff Sgt. Brian Rehill, a risk manager based at the Operational Communications Centre in Truro, said occurred on April 18-19, 2020, as he faced a “tsunami” of information while a murderous rampage unfolded in the village of Portapique.
The public inquiry heard that just after 10:44 p.m. on April 18, Rehill told Const. Chris Grund to station himself at Hillview Lane, a small road off the highway four kilometres east of the community.
Meanwhile, the killer was escaping in a replica RCMP car through back roads at about 10:45 p.m. after murdering 13 of his 22 victims.
It was unclear from Rehill’s testimony precisely how long Grund would have taken to get to the containment point and whether he would have arrived in time to block the gunman. The officer drove past his assigned position straight to the main road’s intersection with the highway, which was to the west of the dirt-road exit the killer used.
“There probably was a misunderstanding,” Rehill said under questioning from commission counsel Roger Burrill.
“I guess in the busyness of the moment … maybe it didn’t get clarified good enough, and he went past that (location) I believe,” he testified. “I have to own that …. I could have followed up and made sure and said ‘Chris, are you sure you are where I want you?’”
The public inquiry made special accommodations for Rehill’s testimony for health reasons. These included an exemption from being cross-examined by lawyers representing families of the victims, and the hearing was closed to the public. Its contents were only approved for release at the end of the day’s hearing.
Rehill, who has been off work for 18 months, was direct and matter-of-fact in answering questions from Burrill for about four hours before quickly fielding questions submitted by other lawyers. He completed his testimony with a statement offering condolences to the victims’ families.
“It must be so terribly hard for all of them. It’s a very sad circumstance (and) very tragic,” he said. “But I want people to bear in mind … that we’re human beings. We put on a uniform when we go to work. We put our lives at risk all the time.”
The senior officer said he still suffers from nightmares, poor sleep and constant reminders of what happened in April 2020.
“Everybody that night and the following day had their heart and soul into this,” he said. “They were doing their best. (But) when you dissect it, we could have done better. We’re not denying that. There’s ways we could improve …. We’re people, too. Everybody’s traumatized.”
In morning testimony, Burrill asked Rehill if there was a way he could have checked on Grund and sent him to his originally assigned position.
Rehill replied he didn’t think he would have viewed Grund’s position with concern, as the maps he was looking at led him to believe there wasn’t an alternative way out of Portapique. He also noted that if the officer had been at the appointed spot, there was a chance he could have been “executed” by the gunman.
Burrill played a brief radio transmission from Const. Vicki Colford at 10:48 p.m. on April 18 saying there was “a kind of a road” the killer could have taken to escape other than the road at which she was stationed. Rehill told the commission he didn’t recall hearing this information, as he was busy with other duties.
He commented that his decision-making in general was affected by the huge flow of information. “It was a lot for me,” he said. “It was frustrating.”
However, lawyers for victims’ families have noted that there were also flaws in the RCMP’s ability to use its own resources and technology.
For example, while Rehill said he couldn’t see small roads on his maps, the inquiry has already received evidence from a supervisor at the Operational Communications Centre that she couldn’t access high-quality maps on the night of the attack due to an inability to find the proper passwords.
A study released last week said the aerial-based maps — known as Pictometry — would have given Rehill a clearer view of the killer’s escape route alongside a blueberry field.
Burrill also asked Rehill about why in the middle of the response he was dealing with provincial Child and Family Services, who were calling about four children whose parents were killed in Portapique. The lawyer suggested that task could have been delegated.
Rehill agreed: “It’s like another task that someone else could be doing.”
He said he understood he was supposed to step back when Staff Sgt. Jeff West took over at 1:23 a.m. on April 19, but he kept providing direction anyway. Burrill pointed out that Rehill remained involved in the operation until 3 a.m.
Rehill said he believes that improved models for the early management of active shootings should be developed, with more risk managers dividing up the work.
“We could have a situation where three or four risk managers come in,” each with a different task, he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2022.
— With files from Michael MacDonald in Halifax.
Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press
News
Body believed to be missing B.C. kayaker found in U.S., RCMP say – CBC.ca
The RCMP say a body that was recovered by authorities in Washington state is believed to be one of two kayakers reported missing off Vancouver Island on Saturday.
Const. Alex Bérubé said the identity of the body found on San Juan Island, just south of the border, is still to be confirmed by the coroner.
A search has been underway in the waters off Sidney, B.C., about 25 kilometres north of Victoria, since the two kayakers were reported missing.
RCMP previously said Daniel MacAlpine, 36, and Nicolas West, 26, went missing while kayaking from D’Arcy Island to View Beach on Saturday afternoon. They were in a teal blue, fibreglass, two-person kayak.
Police said members of the Central Saanich Police Department and Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization search and rescue were involved in the search, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre and Canadian Coast Guard were also assisting.
News
Some Canadians will be digging out of 25+ cm of snow by Friday – The Weather Network
Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Prepare for multiple rounds of April snowfall this week, as Labrador braces for wintry conditions. This onslaught of snow is expected to blanket the region, potentially leading to hazardous travel conditions and disruptions throughout the week
As we march even deeper into the heart of the spring season, many parts of Canada are finding it tough to find any consistent signs of warming weather. Add to the mix periods of snow and wintry precipitation, and it’s safe to say the winter season is certainly not going out without a strong fight.
This week, parts of the East Coast will bear the brunt of the winter weather, with multiple rounds of April snowfall stacking up in Labrador. The chances for snow flurries will stick around all week long, bringing as much as 25 cm for some.
MUST SEE: Extreme pattern over Arctic produces 50+ degree temperature spread
Although 25+ cm of snow in April may seem extreme, for this part of the country, it’s definitely nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, the month as a whole brings about 40-50 cm of snow to Labrador on average.
Some communities, including Nain, even have snowfall chances stretch all the way into June!
“This week will be a little bit different however, as some regions could reach about half of Labrador’s monthly averages alone,” says Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. “The first round on Tuesday will pack quite the punch, with heavy snow and gusty winds stretching from Labrador city to the coast.”
Winds will be gusting between 70-90 km/h at times, and travel conditions will likely deteriorate quickly due to potential whiteouts and reduced visibility.
News
Fire at building under construction in north-end Halifax quickly extinguished – CBC.ca
Witnesses described hearing a loud blast and seeing large plumes of black smoke on Tuesday morning as a building under construction in Halifax’s north end caught fire.
A message on Halifax’s alert system said the fire was at a building in the area of Robie and St Albans streets. About an hour later, the municipality said the fire was out.
The alert warned people who live on the peninsula to close their windows due to smoke from the fire possibly being toxic.
“Residents and businesses near the fire should still keep windows closed and air exchangers turned off until air quality conditions improve in the coming hours as a precaution,” the municipality said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Halifax Regional Police were asking people to avoid the area during what is normally a time of heavy morning traffic.
James Shaw lives nearby. He said he heard a blast around 8:20 a.m. local time.
“It shook the whole house,” Shaw said in an interview at the scene. “So I came outside … and saw this incredible building here on fire. Big black smoke. Lots of sparks and stuff going.”
Mike Clark was working on the building adjacent to the one that caught fire. He said he was on the 30th floor when the roof of the other building caught fire and propane tanks blew up.
He said construction crews were then evacuated from the building.
“The elevator was shut down and everyone went down the stairs and out the door,” he said. “Everybody on each floor has a horn to check if anybody was left in the building. Sounded the horn and walked down. It was very organized.”
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