CONVICTED MOUNTIE VOLUNTARILY LEAVES FORCE
Facing perjury charges for testimony on Dziekanski’s death
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. • Veteran RCMP officer Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson, whose involvement in Robert Dziekanski’s death and unrelated conviction in a fatal accident made him an example of the bad apples the Mounties have been unable to fire, voluntarily left the force Friday.
Robinson’s discharge papers were signed the same day the disgraced officer was in a British Columbia court for sentencing for obstructing justice following the fatal crash in 2008, said Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens.
“I received Mr. Robinson’s RCMP discharge documents and I signed them,” Deputy Comm. Callens, the force’s top commander in B.C., said in a statement.
“While I have been clear that I was seeking his involuntary dismissal, the opportunity to discharge him from the organization this morning was one which eliminated further delays, costs and uncertainty.”
Robinson’s discharge means he will no longer face internal discipline within the force, including an RCMP code-of-conduct investigation, but his legal troubles could continue for some time.
The 42-year-old was convicted earlier this year of obstruction of justice after his vehicle struck and killed 21year-old motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson in Delta, south of Vancouver, in October 2008.
Robinson and three other Mounties officers are also facing perjury charges in connection with their testimony at the public inquiry into Mr. Dziekanski’s death at Vancouver’s airport, where Mr. Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant, was stunned with an RCMP Taser.
At his sentencing hearing in a New Westminster court, the Crown asked for a sentence of between three and nine months in jail or a conditional sentence of up to 18 months. Robinson’s lawyer asked for a conditional sentence of three to six months.
The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison.
Mr. Hutchinson’s mother broke into tears when she heard Robinson was off the force. She had called for the RCMP to fire the officer.
A year before Mr. Hutchinson’s death, Robinson was among four RCMP officers called to Vancouver’s airport when Mr. Dziekanski, a new immigrant who did not speak English, started throwing furniture in the terminal after spending 10 hours in the facility.
Mr. Dziekanski was stunned repeatedly with a Taser after he picked up a stapler, and Robinson testified at the public inquiry that he ordered one of his officers to use the stun gun because he believed Mr. Dziekanski posed a threat.
All four officers were charged with perjury for that testimony last year. Robinson has pleaded not guilty and his trial is currently set for April 2013.
Deputy Comm. Callens has used Robinson’s case to argue for changes to the federal laws that govern the force, which he has complained make it far too difficult to fire officers who behave badly.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson has echoed Deputy Comm. Callens concerns about the RCMP Act, and last month Ottawa announced changes to the law that would give the commissioner greater power to discipline or fire officers.