Tactical officers raised concerns before training explosion, letter alleges

Constables within the Ottawa police tactical unit say they've lost confidence in the unit's acting staff sergeant and an acting superintendent after a training exercise explosion in June that left two police officers and three paramedics injured, according to a letter sent toCBC News reporter Judy Trinh.

There was a full and complete disregard for our safety, resulting in injuries, and we feel that somehow this is being concealed, either by command,SIUor the Ministry of Labour.-letter signed by 'the constables of the Ottawa police tactical unit'

In the letter, dated Oct. 13, signed by "the constables of the Ottawa police tactical unit" andsent to the Special Investigations Unit, the constables allege that Acting Staff Sgt. Martin Rukavina and Ottawa Paramedic Service supervisor Craig MacInnes "were insistent and [adamant] that everyone should be closer" to the entry points and explosives in the training exercise.

• DOCUMENT | Click here to see the letter

The explosion happened Wednesday, June 18, just after 10 a.m. ET, during a joint force-entry exercise into an abandoned home. The training exercise involved Ottawa police officers, paramedics and RCMP officers.

Two Ottawa police officers suffered minor injuries. Two paramedics MacInnes and Reid Purdy suffered serious injuries. A third paramedic, Bradley Ross, suffered minor injuries.

The Special Investigations unit, along with the Ministry of Labour and the Ottawa police Professional Standards Section, are investigating the explosion.

Sergeants raised concerns 2 days before explosion, letter says

The letter sent by the tactical constables to the SIU alleges that on Monday, June 16 two days before the explosion Sgt. Michael Belanger and Sgt. Michael Salinas "directly" approached Rukavina and MacInnes with "serious concerns over the proximity of both tactical officers and paramedics to the entry points and explosive charges."

The letter goes on to say that Rukavina then "ordered" personnel closer to the explosives, and that MacInneshad influenced Rukavina to do so.

In July, the constables wrote a different letter describing their lack of confidence in Rukavina and then inspector Mark Ford (who is now the acting superintendent of emergency operations), according to the letter sent to the SIU. The initial letter was sent directly to Rukavinaand Ford.

The constables allege that Rukavina acknowledged receiving thatfirst letter in July before going on vacation for a month, but that the issues haven'tbeen addressed by Rukavina or Ford.

There are 26 constables and four sergeants currently in the Ottawa police tactical unit. Sources in the unit said the original letter of non-confidence was signed by the "overwhelming majority of constables," and that it was "nearly unanimous."

'We feel that somehow this is being concealed,' constables say

"There was a full and complete disregard for our safety, resulting in injuries, and we feel that somehow this is being concealed, either by command, SIU or the Ministry of Labour," the latest letter from the constables reads.

Reached by phone Thursday, Rukavina told the CBC's Judy Trinh that he's "disappointed" in the contents of the latest letter, and that he can't comment further because of the ongoing SIU investigation.

Rukavina has been a police officer for 27 years. He was promoted to lead the tactical unit in Februaryafter being away from the unit for seven years, during which time he did a stint on patrol, trained other bomb tech officers while seconded to the RCMP, and was involved in policing major events.

Rukavina was in charge of planning the training incident in June.

The 47-year-old has 14 years of experience as a bomb technician, 10 years with the tactical unit, and four years with the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) unit.He has worked as a trainer inCanada and internationallyin CBRNE and explosives response.

Ford, 49, has also been an Ottawa police officer for 27 years, 23 of them in various roles of emergency operations including tactical, CBRNE, explosives disposal, major event planning, critical incident command and duty inspector.

He taught critical incident command at the Canadian Police College and currently sits on the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police emergency committees.

Police, paramedics, SIUrefuse comment, citing ongoing investigations

Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said in an email that the force is "aware of the letter," and that police can't comment due to the ongoing investigations into the training exercise.

The SIU also won't comment, citing their ongoing investigation.

What the issue comes down to is, if they're not feeling like they're being listened to. That's something that has to be addressed, and I'm sure will be addressed, by the service.- Matt Skof, Ottawa Police Association president

The chair of the Ottawa Police Service Board, Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, received a copy of the latest letter on Wednesday, scanned it and sent it to the chief's office.

El-Chantiry said he also can't comment due to the investigations, but added: "I'm disappointed to see the letter surface because the people who sent the letter, they know the process and they know we can't make any comment if the Ministry of Labour and the SIU are investigating.

"I can't get into he said, she said at this point," El-Chantirysaid. "Again, how can we say they went through the due process if this is still under investigation as we speak? And we all know, when the SIU invokes their mandate, we cannot say or do anything until they complete their process. And sometimes it may take a long time, but in the meantime, there are two ministries who are really doing the investigation."

Matt Skof, president of the Ottawa Police Association, said it's not unusual for staff in units to complain about upper management. He said it's clear the officers who wrote and signed the letter feel like they're not being heard.

"What the issue comes down to is, if they're not feeling like they're being listened to. That's something that has to be addressed, and I'm sure will be addressed, by the service," Skof said. "...Obviously, their perception is their reality right now, and if it's not believed... this is how they felt that they had to react. Again, there are other places that they could have turned to."

Greg Furlong, the acting program manager of professional standards at the Ottawa Paramedic Service, said they won't comment until the Ministry of Labour investigation is complete.

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