Carleton University Criminology Professor and Police procedural expert Darryl Davies has written a strongly worded letter to Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, accusing him and others responsible for enforcing Ontario's Laws of corruption.
Davies letter was copied to Ottawa Life Magazine and several other media outlets, after CBC reported yesterday that Ottawa Police Constable Daniel Montsion was wearing Oakley Standard Issue assault gloves which feature a thick piece of carbon fibre over the knuckles, and other modifications when he assaulted, beat and killed Abdirahman Abdi in Ottawa last summer. An Oakley representative who identified herself as Sarah P. told the CBC news that the gloves are " mainly used in live-action combat for active military members, as well as on-duty police officers should they need to make a break-in to a window or anything that would involve glass," and then added "Think about it as a pair of brass knuckles on a glove. Obviously, it's a little bit of a different material, but it's still going to have the same kind of effectiveness just because of the thick piece of carbon fiber in there."
Montsion was charged with Manslaughter on March 8, 2017. He is still receiving his full pay with the Ottawa Police. Montsion did not appear before Justice of the Peace Louisette Girault on Monday March 6 for a bail hearing. Instead, the Attorney General’s Yasir Naqvi’s office approved Montsion’s release out of the Kanata OPP by an SIU officer. The Ottawa Police Services Board which is chaired by Ottawa Councilor Eli El Chantiry agreed to the special treatment provided Montsion after he was charged with manslaughter in the violent and brutal death of Abdi .
The full text of Davies letter is below.
Dear Minister Naqvi
There is something inherently corrupt about a justice system that allows a police officer who is charged with three serious criminal offences to be released before a bail hearing is even held (see link).
There is only one word that fits this decision and it’s called 'corruption'. Politicians that sit on the sidelines and say and do nothing about this are directly responsible for the kind of policing and justice system we have in this province. We have had problems with thug policing in the City of Ottawa for years.
Dan Donovan has written about the problem with policing in Ottawa Life Magazine for many years and I have contributed more than my share of articles and interviews on the subject. During this period what have the politicians been doing to address this problem. Nothing. It's a pathetic comment on our society and the state of politics in this country.
It’s exactly this 'do nothing' mentality by politicians that explains why individuals like Donald Trump are being swept into power. People are fed up with politicians who like to feed at the trough and protect the status quo but when it comes to actually making the tough decisions and doing something to ensure Canadian values are protected they are no where to be seen.
As the Attorney General of Ontario what are you doing to address this blatant example of favouritism towards a cop who is charged with manslaughter and two other serious criminal offences. This cops behaviour and attitude at the scene exemplify what many people are referring to as thug policing.
It’s shocking that the Chief of Police Charles Bordeleau does not even know that he has some officers running around this City behaving like goons and wearing equipment that has no other purpose than to hurt, maim and kill other people.
In the interim would you please advise me why Const. Daniel Montsion's was released without a bail hearing and whether this will be the new norm in the future for dealing with other citizens charged with serious offences under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Thank you
Darryl T Davies
Instructor in criminology and criminal justice
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Carleton University
