Is SIU now the Police Protection Agency?

Re Andrew Loku tragedy is not about race, Opinion March 30

Police association president Mike McCormack tries to set aside the concern of race being a factor in the shooting of Andrew Loku. His argument is twofold.

First, an incident three hours prior to the shooting where Loku was riding a scooter and police officers, recognizing a safety hazard, assisted him. The action of these officers in keeping with their responsibility to the public they serve is clearly commendable. McCormack suggests their behaviour in assisting Loku is indicative of the behaviour of those officers at the time of the fatal shooting of Loku. How can we conclude McCormack’s assumption is correct as the SIU again refuses to advise the public of its findings? How was McCormack and not the public apprised of the circumstances of the shooting he now reveals in his column? Why was evidence given by Loku’s neighbour, who was at his side at the time of the shooting, disregarded as not credible compared to the police version?

Secondly, over the past two decades, beginning with Lester Donaldson and with the singular exception of the Sammy Yatim shooting, videoed by a passerby, the SIU has found police shooters innocent and the shootings warranted. The majority of these fatal shootings by police have been people of colour.

A reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the record is that instead of protecting the public’s interest, the SIU have defined its role as the PPA — Police Protection Agency.

We the public are entitled to know all the facts from our public employees when one of us perishes by their hand. Secrecy does not serve the public interest. Enough is enough.

Gordon Wilson, Port Rowan, Ont.