June 28, 2023
Vancouver, B.C. — Following is a statement from Brian Sauvé, President & CEO, National Police Federation, in response to the judgment against Paul Nicholas Russell, who opened fire on the Vanderhoof RCMP Detachment in 2021 and found not guilty of attempted murder of an RCMP Member:
“Our Members and all workers have a right to be safe in their workplace – especially in their detachment, which is also a place where you will find visiting members of the public and civilian employees. While we welcome the fact that this individual was found guilty of two thirds of the initial nine charges laid against him, we are deeply concerned that the charge of attempted murder, alongside other charges, was dismissed. Ultimately, this verdict is insulting and unfathomable given the current environment of increasing police officer deaths and workplace safety concerns they face.
More concerning, however, is the fact that Mr. Russell was also charged with assault with a weapon following an incident that allegedly took place the week before he fired on the Vanderhoof detachment.”
About the National Police Federation:
The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. It is the largest police labour relations organization in Canada and second largest in North America. We are focused on improving public safety in Canada for our Members and all Canadians by advocating for investment in policing and other related supports and services. This includes calling for required resourcing, equipment, and supports to enhance community safety and livability in the communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.
For more information: https://npf-fpn.com/
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Media contacts:
Fabrice de Dongo
Manager, Media Relations
[email protected]
(647) 274-7118
Sarah Kavanagh
Coordinator, Media Relations
[email protected]
(604) 842-6864
