Moreside inquiry calls for domestic violence training for 911 operators, police

An Alberta judge looking into the stabbing death of a High Prairie woman 10 years ago recommends 911 operators and police officers be better trained to recognize risk factors in domestic violence.

BrendaMoresidewas found dead in her home in February 2005, 12 days after she called RCMP to remove her husband StanWillierwho had broken into the house about 300 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Both the 911 operator who tookMoresidescalls and the RCMP have admitted they failed the victim in not taking her entreaties more seriously.

During the fatality inquiry the operator who tookMoreside'scall admitted she treated the call more like a case of vandalism and was dismissive, used unprofessional language and an improper tone.

The operator toldMoresidepolice could not chargeWillierwith damaging his own property.

AfterMoresidepersisted, the operator called police. However the RCMP never dispatched a car to the home.

This particular conversation between the constable and Ms.Moresideconcluded with the officer suggesting to Ms.Moresidethat bothMoresideandWilliershould get some sleep and deal with the situation in the morning, Judge James Wheatleywrote in therecently released report.

Lack of response a mistake

Shortly after the CBC brought the case to light, an RCMP official called the lack of response an error and opened an internal investigation.

In his fatality report, Wheatley acknowledged that sinceMoresidesdeath, policy governing the handling of domestic violence has changed dramatically in the province.

Frontlineofficers now have assessment tools such as the Family Violence Investigation Report and the Integrated Risk and Threat Assessment Centre (I-TRAC).

A formal document Domestic Violence for Police and Prosecutors was published in 2006 and updated in 2009 and 2013 while thePolice Advisory Committee created a new domestic violence training module in 2013.

The inquiry also heard that the civilian operators since this incident are now much more educated andreviewed in respect of the practices they use in taking calls from private citizens, he wrote.

Training improved since Moreside's death

Indeed training now devoted to these operators is in the writers view exemplary compared to the guidance that early operators [received] such as at the time of Ms. Moresides death.

However Wheatley concluded with recommendations that:

• non-police operators are trained in their jobs especially in respect of recognition of risk factors in domestic violence situations.
• police services institute training programs for recruits ondomestic violence, risk assessment and management.
• programs be set up to monitor the performance of officers in their early stages of field work to ensure those officers develop their skills in respect of domestic violence situations.
• police services on a national, regional and local basis develop a domestic violence policy.
• officers intervening in a domestic violence situationcomplete a document such as a Family Violence Investigation Report and, when appropriate, referrals are made to the Integrated Threat and Risk Assessment Centre.
• governmental agencies ensure that institutions such as I-TRAC continue to be funded and functional and available to all levels of operations within the province where risk assessments are required.
• the Provincial Death Review Committee continue its now fledgling operation much along the lines of its Ontario equivalent to ensure that all domestic violence deaths are reviewed and recommendations made to prevent such deaths.