Public needs answers

You would think by the zippered lips of spokespeople for the Special Investigations Unit and Niagara Regional Police that the shooting of one police officer by another was of no concern.

But it is both alarming and frightening, and raises many questions to which the public needs answers.

As readers will know by now, last Thursday an altercation occurred between two Niagara police officers, words were exchanged, then a fist fight developed. It all ended with one officer allegedly shooting the other. That incident is now being investigated by the SIU. Local media outlets have identified the shot cop — who is apparently in stable condition — as Const. Nathan Parker and the officer who allegedly fired his weapon as Det.-Sgt. Shane Donovan.

In this case, of all cases, you would think the SIU and Niagara police would be more transparent about what happened and what will happen. But both are ducking important issues.

Most important: Why was Parker still on the Niagara force and carrying a gun despite four disciplinary hearings involving aggressive behaviour and unreasonable use of force, and other disciplinary issues going back to 2006?

According to the former director of the SIU, Howard Morton, more information can be made public without jeopardizing the investigation into the incident.

It should be. One cop shooting another indicates deep dysfunction in the force. So does the fact that an officer with such a problematic track record kept his position. There will be no sweeping this under the rug.

One cop shooting another indicates deep dysfunction in the force