Nunavik police looking into rubber bullets, deputy chief says
Move follows 3 incidents in 8 months in region that left 3 men dead
The Nunavik Police Service is considering arming officers with rubber bullets in an effort to reduce the likelihood that interactions with members of the public are fatal. (File photo)
The Nunavik Police Service is looking into giving officers rubber bullets in an effort to reduce the likelihood of lethal encounters with the public.
The move comes after three incidents in eight months in Nunavik that left three people dead.
Deputy chiefs Jean-Francois Morin and Shaun Longstreet presented the plan Monday to Kativik Regional Government council during a meeting in Kuujjuaq.
They told councillors that Chief Jean-Pierre Larose and Morin met with four members of the Montreal Police Service on June 26 to review rubber bullets used during their patrols and special intervention, an activity report from June to September said.
“It’s a tool that will be complementary to the taser and the pepper spray,” Morin said during Monday’s council meeting.
“Let’s say somebody that’s carrying a knife is attacking a police officer. If [police] have distance enough, they could use that instead of the firearm.”
While rubber bullets are considered less likely to kill, they can still cause serious injury or death. They are usually made of a metal core like steel and covered in rubber or plastic.
There’s no implementation date for the new type of ammunition yet, Morin said.
Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, investigates all incidents when a member of the public is killed or injured during contact with police. It opened investigations into each of the three fatal police shootings in Nunavik since last November.
The bureau has completed its investigation into an incident from November 2024 in Salluit that left Joshua Papigatuk dead and his twin brother Garnet Papigatuk injured.
The bureau handed over its investigation report to Quebec’s director of criminal and penal prosecutions on June 26. The director will look at the circumstances of the incident and decide whether or not to lay charges against the officers involved.
No decision has been made in this case.
The bureau is still investigating two other incidents from earlier this year in Nunavik. Mark R. Annanack died after an altercation with police in May, and another man died after an incident with police in Inukjuak in July.
Kativik Regional Government is also reviewing the Nunavik Police Service after these incidents.
The review is looking into the operations and practices of the police service, including use of force and de-escalation, said Ron Bowles, director-general for KRG, at Monday’s council meeting.
The Nunavik police activity report said that it has been fully co-operating with the review and providing all requested information and documentation.
The review is part of a wider response to Nunavik policing practices, with families of victims pushing for reforms.
In July, relatives of Annanack and Papigatuk called for police officers to stop carrying lethal firearms among other other demands.
Other concerns of police brutality were brought up at the council meeting.
Inukjuak Coun. Charlie Nowkawalk said at the meeting that he’s heard complaints of people being beaten in their cells by police officers.
Longstreet responded that Nunavik Police Service is obligated to investigate and submit these complaints to the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes.
”What’s important is that when you hear about these things that it’s submitted to me right away,” Longstreet said.
It is that cop who is very aggressive when dealing with people , He needs to have some anger management course on how to deal with his anger and reaction . Karma will eventually get him but damage will be done and suffering will occur.
What you’re describing and if not just rumours, that person is not fit for police service, needs to find a life and proper job.
yes , i was surprised to see him back in inukjuak patrolling. There is a video of him beating the daylights out of a guy in feburary trying to arrest him. over 20 punches on him while on top of him. People passing by was wondering what the heck he is doing! he is a cop for godsake. suppose to be serve and protect. The guy he beat up weighs no more than 130lbs and this cop is well over 200lbs with gear on. You could see him driving around town with his big red shiny glasses. and uses an inuk Nassak . I tried to write his first name on here but it got deleted .
like i said Karma will get him eventually. I just hope he reads this and realizes how he can improve but highly doubt he gives a crap with his attitude.
” Set phasers to stun ”
Have Krg considered really researching the nature of the troubles we’re having among the Nunavik population and admitting not only to a very dysfunctional daily living, but really pouring more money and police into the drug, booze and notorious drunken people just having accidents and bothering family and other citizens? No good to focus only on police corruption or lack of service with addressing the real roots, hear that before and its not going to go away on its own. Next time you go Montreal visit uulivik to see the big part of the mess coming out of the Nunavik community. The injured, the sick from drugs and booze, plus other preventive illnesses that got life in misery for too many.