Police board meeting visitors want action

Family members and supporters of a man killed by Hamilton police aren’t letting up in their quest for answers. A crowd of more than two dozen packed into Monday evenings Police Services Board meeting to publicly show their frustration at June’s killing of Steve Mesic.   Sean Leathong has more.

Since her fiance was shot and killed by police last June, Sharon Dorr has has had one conversation with Chief Glenn deCaire. That was last Thursday when the Chief called to offer condolences. Monday, he did so again, publicly, more than three months after the shooting: “I offer to you my personal and very heartfelt condolences at this loss in your personal life.”

Sharon Dorr had this response: “Umm, it was long over due.”

Steve Mesic was killed on June 7th. He had been spotted dodging traffic on the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, and was later shot in an altercation with police in a forest near his home. He had checked recently out of a volunteer psychiatric program at St. Joes. There have been no arrests, and the SIU have yet to release a report.

On July 27th, Toronto police shot and killed Sammy Yatim on a TTC streetcar. A YouTube video of the killing created a large public outcry, and soon after, officer james forcillo was arrested and charged with second degree murder

Norman Dorr: “The difference between Sammy Yatim and Steve Mesic is they have a video, we don’t.”

Sharon, who is eight and a half months pregnant with Steve’s child, wanted to remind police that Steve’s story isn’t going away: “I was actually hoping just send a message to the chief and to the board, that they do need to speak to the public and that we’re not going to stand for them not answering us and aknowledging us.”

And they did. The shooting of Steve Mesic was not on the original agenda, but as the room was packed with supporters, Steve’s case was addressed at the beginning of the meeting. But after offering his condolences, Police Chief de Caire said that they cannot comment while the SIU is still investigating.

Among the supporters wer family members of Andreas Chinnery and Phonesay Chanthachack, two men who had been killed in incidents involving police in the past.

One thing that did come out of the meeting today is that, in the future, the will hold Police Services Boards meetings her at City Hall to accommodate the overflowing crowd.