Judge recommends changes to RCMP response teams

An Alberta judge is recommending a number of changes to RCMP emergency response teams following a fatality inquiry into an armed standoff west of Edmonton nearly three years ago.

During the February 2004 incident in Spruce Grove, Martin Ostopovich, 41, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, shot and killed RCMP Cpl. James Galloway, 55. RCMP officers then shot and killed Ostopovich.

Ostopovich had a history of mental illness and had left a psychiatric ward before his treatment was completed.

In his 22-page report released Tuesday, Judge Peter Ayotte concluded the RCMP acted properly but made 13 recommendations, including making members of emergency response teams full-time. ERT units are made up of 12 part-time officers.

Ayotte also suggests each unit should have at least 20 members and that their training should be increased from two to three days a month.

In addition, he recommends that ERT negotiators receive more training in dealing with mental health issues.

During the inquiry, Ayotte also heard what he called alarming statistics about drug use, suicide and the difficulty in treating people with the current number of psychiatrists who practise in Edmonton.

The report recommends that the provincial government spend the necessary amount of money to recruit, train and keep psychiatrists in Alberta.

The judge also suggests the Mental Health Act be amended to allow patients to be kept in treatment, regardless of their personal wishes.

Ayotte said if such legislation had been in place in the years leading up to this incident, the tragedy might have been avoided.

The recommendations in the report aren't binding.