RCMP faces sentencing in Moncton shooting spree

The RCMP faces sentencing today for Labour Code violations in the 2014 Moncton, N.B., shooting rampage that left three officers dead — but a spokesman for members says the real work needs to come outside the courtroom.

Terry McKee of the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada says what’s needed is accountability of the force’s top brass.

“The policing community as a whole is a victim out of this. It’s purely as a result of the incompetence of the senior executives of the RCMP,” McKee said.

“Justice is never served by imposing any amount of a fine paid by the taxpayer for fatal decisions made by individuals.”

Constables Doug Larche, Fabrice Gevaudan and Dave Ross were killed, while constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen were injured when gunman Justin Bourque went hunting police officers in a Moncton neighbourhood.

Bourque had targeted officers in the hopes of sparking an antigovernment rebellion.

The force was convicted of failing to provide its members with adequate use-of-force equipment and user training.

Carbine rifles were not available to general duty officers at the time of the Moncton shootings, and during the trial, numerous witnesses said they could have made a difference.

The high-powered carbines were approved in 2011, but their rollout was delayed on several occasions.