SIU lays murder charge against officer

On February 23, 2012, the Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Director announced, through a media release, that he would be laying charges of second degree murder against Toronto Police constable David Cavanagh in relation to the death of Mr. Eric Osawe in September 2010:

SIU Director lays second degree murder charges

This is a dramatic development in the case, which originally saw manslaughter charges laid against this officer. Constable Cavanagh was part of a combined Emergency Task Force (ETF) and Guns & Gangs Unit execution of a search warrant on premises in Etobicoke.

The matter will serve to heighten already existing tensions between Ontario police and the current Director of the SIU, Mr. Ian Scott.

Windsor Officer & Police Chief "Retirement"

The events following upon the heels of the incident involving an undercover Windsor Police Service officer and a local doctor has included the recent "retirement" of the Service's Chief of Police:

Windsor Police Incident

The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) has filed an investigative report which casts serious doubt on the credibility of the officer involved in this incident, as well as, other officers and supervisors within the Service who have endorsed officer van Buskirk's version of events.

There will be ongoing deliberations with respect to this matter as the local doctor has engaged legal counsel in a law suit against the Windsor Police and the Windsor Police Services Board with regard to wrongful arrest and police brutality. The officers involved in this incident have also indicated that they will defend themselves vigorously.

Violence & Police Encounters

This is a useful study of violence associated with police operations. It is suitable to take a scientific view of this subject matter and it's worthwhile to ensure that comprehensive statistics are used to establish patterns of behaviour in the deployment of various forms of police use of force options. What is essential here is that all examinations of police violence be evidence-based and conducted with the utmost objectivity; absent any direct, indirect, or implied conclusions that would advantage (or disadvantage) existing police policies, procedures and practices.

Dr. Christine Hall's Study of Police Violence