KRPF officer wounds Umiujaq man with shotgun

MONTREAL — A knife-wielding Umiujaq man was shot and injured last month when he threatened to stab a rookie member of the Kativik Regional Police Force who had just arrived in the community.

Ronald McInnis, a spokesman with the Surêté du Québec, said the incident occurred after a domestic dispute.

McInnis said an Umiujaq man had been fighting with his girlfriend when she fled to the community’s KRPF residence. The man followed her and threatened to stab the constable.

“The man began to jump on the police vehicle and began to smash it up. He chased the constable around the truck,” McInnis said.

Finally, the constable raised his 12-gauge shotgun and ordered the man to drop the knife. When he didn’t comply, the constable fired a single round.

“He was afraid for his life,” McInnis said.

The Surêté du Québec investigated the shooting and determined it was justified. The KRPF won’t release the identity of the constable, who left Umiujaq after the incident.

The man, who suffered a shoulder wound, was medevaced to Montreal. His injuries, although severe, were not life-threatening.

Police say charges are pending against Robert Tookalook of Umiujaq.

KRPF competent?

The shooting has raised questions about the competence of short-term replacement constables that the KRPF brings to Nunavik.

The temporary constables are usually hired for four-month stints. They’re brought to Nunavik because the KRPF has been unable to recruit enough qualified Inuit. A majority of KRPF members are supposed to be Inuit.

Prior to the shooting, Umiujaq had just lost two long-time constables, who were both Inuit. One left for a job in the South, while the other is on sick leave after an altercation in which a man sat on his chest and pointed a .22-calibre rifle at him.
Some attribute the recent shooting in Umiujaq to deficiencies within the KRPF.

Critics — who include several former KRPF constables — say the force lacks adequately trained leaders and fails to support officers in smaller communities.
“When the direction at the top is flawed and ineffective, how good can your operations be?” asked one disgruntled ex-officer, who asked that his name not be printed.

“The Kativik Regional Government has a role in this. If you continue to lower your expectations of things then you will only have the illusion that all is well. The KRG continues to lower its expectations by placing unqualified people in positions that professionals should occupy.”

Handguns needed?

The shooting has also raised questions about the arming of KRPF officers.
The shotgun involved in Umiujaq incident is normally kept under lock and key. It’s the only type of firearm KRPF constables may use in emergencies.

All other police officers in Quebec carry handguns when they’re on duty.

KRPF officers could too. Two years ago the Kativik Regional Government gave the KRPF the go-ahead to purchase handguns for its constables.

These were to have been distributed by March of last year, but the handguns are still in Kuujjuaq, and constables haven’t yet received training in how to use them.
Police chief Brian Jones said he’s in no hurry to arm constables.

“It’s an issue we’re looking at very seriously. We have to consider the pros and cons. People get hurt,” Jones said. “As soon as the trigger is pushed that puts us in a different zone.”