By Canadian Press

Expert tells Nunavut inquest many police tools not effective in cold weather

Oct 7, 2021 | 1:59 PM

GJOA HAVEN, Nunavut — A use of force expert says an RCMP officer who shot and killed an armed man in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, in 2016 didn’t have effective, less-lethal options he could have used that day.

Sgt. Brad Fawcett told a coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-year-old Charles Qirngnirq that many of the tools officers are equipped with don’t work in cold weather.

Fawcett says stun guns such as Tasers don’t often work in the cold, pepper spray isn’t as effective and batons don’t have the same impact through winter clothing. 

He says the only two officers working in the remote community didn’t have any backup nearby and were unable to contain Qirngnirq.

Fawcett also says no scenario training fully prepares officers for critical incidents, saying they get minutes of practice for hundreds of hours of game time. 

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The inquest also heard that Ottawa police investigators, who came to Gjoa Haven two days after the shooting, did not record the officer’s statements on video or audio because of a technical issue, maybe due to batteries not working in the cold.

The inquest has heard that it was about -33 C on the day of the shooting.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2021. 

The Canadian Press