Mental state of Alberta peace officer's accused killer questioned

The lawyer ofthe man accused of killing an Alberta peace officerhas requested to have his client's mental state reviewed by a psychiatrist.

Trevor Kloschinsky, who wascharged with first-degree murderin the death ofHigh River peace officer Rod Lazenby, appeared via closed circuit TV in a Calgary courtroom Monday.

Kloschinsky walked into the room and leaned against the side wall, looking away from the camera. He never spoke.

The 46-year-old man froma rural property near Priddis, Alta.,was represented by duty counsel lawyer Stephen Jenuth.

Jenuth said his client needs to see a psychiatrist, tellingJudge Cheryl Daniel, "You can see how he is on screen, hiding against the wall."

Jenuth said he had difficulty interviewing Kloschinsky andsaid the guards had to hold the phone to his ear.The lawyersaid he didn't know if it was a physical or mental problem.

The next appearance for Kloschinskyis scheduled to be in Okotoks,Alta.,on Tuesday at 9 a.m. MT.

Peace officer a 'huge asset'

Lazenby was a Level2 peace officer, meaning he was not armed with pepper spray or a baton.

The Public Security Peace Officer Program in Alberta is unique in Canada, and allows different levels of government the opportunity to obtain peace officer status for community safety enhancement or specialized law enforcement needs.

A peace officer's main role is to preserve and maintain public peace.

Lazenby, aretired Mountie,was a rural peace officerwho wastasked with enforcing municipal bylaws in the M.D. of Foothills since January 2009.

He died while responding to an animal complaint in the Priddis area on Friday.

"He was a true professional, a strong team player and thorough with his work," municipal manager Harry Riva Cambrin saidin a release.

"Officer Lazenby was a huge asset to the M.D. of Foothills and will be greatly missed."

Alberta Justice review

As the criminal investigation into Lazenby's death continues, Alberta Justice is doing its own review.

Minister Jonathan Denissaysthe reviewwill examine whetherLazenby should have been armed and working with a partner.

"We have to consider the cost, the benefit and we also have to consider the public's view as well," he said at a news conference in CalgaryMonday.

The review is welcome news to George Woof, head of an Alberta peace officers association that hasraised the issue before.

"Around the table of our association I'd say90 per cent of the officers would love to be armed for their own protection," he said.

Some argue that arming peace officers wouldn't necessarily keep them, or the public, safer like Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot, whoteaches sociology at the University of Calgary.

"I would suggest that people look at the types of legislation that these individuals are enforcing and the reality of the fact that these are rare incidents and probably not necessarily preventable by having individuals armed," he said.

No timeline has been set for when thegovernment will finish its review.