Good proof of Crime capital of BC

According to neighbours, he was a troubled man, who had recently been in court for uttering threats. According to Court documents, the deceased had been given one day in jail and 9 months probation for that charge.

Question … crime or mental health issue? … Don’t think the typical criminal would choose to hang out in rural vacant property uttering threats …

Observation … the province of BC and the serving police don’t have a positive record of dealing with folks with “mental health” issues … unless a citizen catches the incident on video like Vancouver airport or Granville Street and the video is released on the provincial news, we will likely never know

I know the individual well its my cousin. He was turned away many times with his issuses. All he seeked was a little help from the same government country he fought for. Something should have been done long ago when red flags were raised on him,but instead was pushed awayuntil the only help they could give him was a bullet to end his life. To turn a man this way took many years of rejection by the athorities who eventually took his life. So you serve your country you get shot in the back is it worth it to me NO . R.I.P Greg Matters you served this country well

Well said slimdawg.

Anotherside…..Ya, a typical criminal should be renting a penthouse yelling threats off his balcony ?

The two incidents to which you refer are 2 among thousands of incidents that police deal with in a year. Two incidents out of thousands gives the police a ‘bad record’? Most of the police decisions were made in split seconds. They happened years ago, time to move on.

Observation…..you should change your name to Onesided!

It’s amazing how a man or woman can serve their country, be harmed and turned away from the government. Many of our soldiers come back with injuries, ranging anywhere from post traumatic disorder to missing limbs. We need to have a support system. An easily accessible, supportive program. I know way to many people who suffer from the many situations they faced over seas and is turned away from our goverment, on the suck it up Sally, reasoning. There may be more to mr.matters story, but it all begins the same. He served our country and came back a different person. Tell me that if any one saw what he most likely saw wouldn’t disturb the most sound person. How frustrating. I’m sorry for the loss.

I wonder whjere the Royal Canadian Legion fits into this picture?

I’m a Korean veteran with some medical problems so I called the Service Officer at the Legion and was informed,well we dont have any Korean veterans. But I was forunate that we do Hav a Korean Veterans Association that did Help me.

I guess a Bosnian veteran would be on his own. There is no Bosnian Veterans association that I know of.I believe that Veterans Affars would help most veterans who served in a combat area.
Cheers

The government is never there for the veterans, my cousin served in N. Africa, Italy, Netherlands, & Germany during WWll and retired after 35 years of service. When he needed hearing aids the veterans affairs said that they had no record of him ever serving in the military.

So a “troubled person” risks the chance of being shot & killed by our RCMP…the guys who are supposed to “Serve & Protect” because he had an axe????

They see no problem with using the “Taser” on young children, immigrants, people under the influence….why not in this case. Maybe they didn’t have the little device charged up?

I am sickened by the whole ordeal….someone that puts his life on the line for his country gets murdered by the force that is supposed to protect the Canadian Citizen….and should be honouring a young man like this.

I can only hope that the “officers” that created this tragedy pay dearly…and somedoy go through the same heartache as Greg Matters family.

Probably time to hear the other side of the story. Things seem pretty one sided here.

Pineview, I guess theres no need for the IIO to send anyone to investigate. You have it all figured out and everyone involved convicted.
“So a “troubled person” risks the chance of being shot & killed by our RCMP…the guys who are supposed to “Serve & Protect” because he had an axe????” MAYBE the RCMP WERE serving and protecting.
It does say that “details of the shooting are few”. Do you know something that hasn’t been released?
This is a tragedy on all counts. I feel for the man and his family as well as the officers involved.

Pineview: Lets get all the details before we hang someone on this, shall we?

I love all the police bashing on this site and in this province from all the cowards that don’t have what it takes to do that job. These guys put their life in jeopardy everyday so that you can live freely and make yourself feel better complaining with your keyboard. If That police officer felt their life or a fellow officer’s life was in danger they have the right to defend themselves. The fact this happened with a mentally unstable man is irrelevant to the outcome of this event. Any person that threatens an officers life will face the consequences.

I don’t understand why it is the RCMP need to use deadly force in this case or many other cases across the country. They have many tools to choose from. Really an axe? A rubber bullet or beanbag wouldn’t have taken control of the situation. They’ll use a taizer on an unarmed man but an axe makes someone impervious to 50000 volts . Explain this. I knew Greg growing up he was a good kid and it doesn’t surprise me that he would join the military and serve our country. My heart and prairs go out to his family and friends. I truly hope one day the RCPM look to less lethal ways to control situations like this one this man is only one of many that have died at the hands of the police unnecessarily. As a sociaty we have become detatched from these incidents because it never happens to us or someone we know. But when it does it makes you look deep inside and question our own values of another persons life R.I.P Greg

Well said Pineview,,,but I feel some facts are missing… time will tell…RIP young man

superdave — I tried to join the RCMP in 1961 when I was 19 years old and tougher than most cops because I worked in a sawmill since I was 16. They told me I wasn’t tall enough. Don’t be calling people cowards who won’t do that job. I wouldn’t want the job now because the credibility of the force is near zero. Any police force who shoots people who are not a threat is a tyranical institution and should be dissolved. We hardly need to continue a force the public has no trust in. Sure there are a lot of good people in there — put them in the new force and throw the bad ones in jail where they belong. The government should quit stalling on this issue. They are NOT “mounted police” any more. Start over with the same penalties for everyone.

Would you believe that it’s the BC lieberal government that is mostly to blame. IMHO I say this because the lieberals have taken the military ombudsman out of service. It seems that many of our servicemen were comming home wounded and in need of an ombudsman. These soldiers do not know where to turn to for help from someone—anyone who actually cares. As for the RCMP, they can’t do any harm or so they say as there has been any charges laid against the RCMP but there has been countless complaints about their behaviour. I say the days of the RCMP investigating the RCMP’s wrong doings is over!!

Surefire, have you been asleep for the past umpteen posts…the RCMP don’t investigate the RCMP anymore. As for everyone that has found the officer guilty of murder before knowing the facts, maybe we should wait. I’m sorry Mr.Matters is dead but why did he have an axe? If one was to read the whole YVR fiasco then they would be able to see that tasers are not effective all the time. I watched the news and it appears this happened in a wooded area, a place where twigs etc could tangle with the taser wires. As well I believe RCMP training is that lethal force ( Ive never been hit with an axe but I’m pretty sure it would hurt and/or kill me) is met with lethal force. I feel very sorry for that officer that had to pull the trigger as he/she now faces the angry condemnation of people that they were protecting. It must be very comforting for those that live in blissful ignorance of the dangers out there and find it easy to quickly condemn those that keep us safe. Again a tragedy for everyone.

Don’t bring an axe to a gun fight.

Traveller I love your comment most about trying to join the RCMP…you were to short and didn’t get in even though you were tougher than most cops, so now you hate the RCMP and they can’t do anything right. If I was a betting man..you suffered from little man syndrome and spent the rest of your young adult life trying to fight every cop you met to prove you were tougher….let it go little guy…you will be okay. 52 years is a long time to hold onto that anger…as far as NOT”mounted police” awesome you’ve noticed that they drive cars and don’t ride horses…neither do the criminals…

I find it interesting that the Independent Investigations Office was brought in so quickly and no details on what happened.

Retired 02 the Legion helps all veterans, maybe you missunderstood. There are lots of Korean vets in PG and in the PG Legion.

I don’t believe that the RCMP puts their lives in jeopardy everyday for us, I don’t think any of them would jump in front of a bus to stop it from hitting someone. That would be putting their life on the line. It seems that now they are more concerned about the perceived threat against themselves, than saving anyone else.

Military personnel put their lives on the line everyday, firemen put their lives on the line everyday, once in awhile a particular policeman will put his life on the line for someone. The job isn’t dangerous as some of you would like us to believe. It doesn’t even make the top ten list of the most dangerous jobs.

traveller – So let me get this straight flipping boards for a couple years and then moving into a booth pushing buttons made you tougher then most cops? After reading your comments its pretty safe to say your height probably wasn’t the only thing working against you in your application. Way to go tough guy!!!

Sure does’nt look good for the RCMP. From what little we know ( oh by the way, when will the polished version of events be released to the media ? ) it sounds like another scared cop. I’m sure the officer did not wnat to kill Mr. Matters, but he did. Questions already asked like why was a Taser not deployed ( we assume ) are very appropriate. Another thing that makes the police look bad is not releasing the details right away. It seems only too obvious that everybody has to get their stories straight, and the image of the force must be upheld.

On mental issues: it is about time that all of our various levels of government started doing something about the veritable plague of mental illness creeping into our society. So many people have been affected by stress, or street drugs, it truly will be akin to an epidemic one day if we don’t do something about it. I have no doubt that Mr. Matters had been frustrated by Veterans Affairs and or the federal government, that sort of treatment is typical, from what I know.
Why wait until something happens? There are a lot of people out there ready to snap and very little help is available, until they do something serious.
metalman.

First off all who dont know the victim and what he been through the multiple years of beening let down. He was a injured soldier or war looking for SOMEONE to help him and every avenue he went down resulted in the door beening slammed on him. Allvyou people who judge someone before knowing what he has seen and been through his 15+years in the military are selfish. Put yourself in his shoes years of rejection by the one who are supposed to be there for you.ya he had his issues and problems in life,and he tried to seek help . Other comment on here saying that ” its nothing but cop bashing on here ” that they are here to serve and protect what about my cousin that served and protected this country . Im not bashing cops but when there is other means of non leathal ways of dealing with the situation. 30 fully armed police officers against one individual with a axe on his own property with no danger to others but himself give me a break this could have been done differentially. Learn the story learn the facts before throwing comments out there. There more out there than a ex military officer that went postal

Superdave: even when police investigate police incidents the group of investigators were usually on scene within hours. I’ve sat in on multiple Coroner’s Inquests and the investigating group (not always RCMP, sone times it would include members of municipal police forces) is assembled and on site ASAP. I would expect the same from an independent review board as well.

One thing I’ve learned from working Coroners Inquests is that what comes out in tw media and from the family is a minute fraction of what happened. All communications between RCMP members during an operation such as this are recorded as well.

I would expect that there would be an inquest on this in a year or so as well. If you want to know the entire unfolding of events I suggest sitting in on an inquest. It is the time when the whole truth unfolds.

Its a good thing we don’t have any treatment centres in this town for trauma and addiction.

Lets just ridicule all of the people that want to open these facilities.

Hypocrites!

slimdawg, give us the facts…all of them…I happen to know there is more to this story than you are admitting. How many times had Matters been arrested…and for what…what caused the police to show up with the emergency response team on his property in the first place. Why did he go near them with an axe? The fact he was a veteran means he has military experience and thus a bit more dangerous. The police were there for 30 hours why didn’t he just give himself up? Its easy to blame the police in these situations but one needs to remember that the deceased is not just in the wrong place at the wrong time. What bothers me most is that everyone says ban the taser ban the taser cause a few people died after getting zapped but then when the police shoot someone (and IMHO, justified) they say you should have tasered him!
As I said before its a sad situation for both the matters family and that of the officer who HAD to shoot him. I’m glad I was safe and warm at home cause the police let me stay that way.

Whatthe?? Dont worry about facts the will come out when the time is right. Where are you getting your facts from posts and blogs u dont know half the story only the one that the media and blogs have put out. I knew this person on a personal level and what he had going on in his life, which is way more info that u will get any source you go to.once again you dont know what took place in those hours before this happened. I was there when i had a grieving mother my aunt crying in my arms shortly after.and no your safe and warm in your place because my cousin went to war to protect you and all police officers in this country!!!

There were some real hero’s in the Bosnia mission. That was a nasty place to be and I have the utmost respect for all our soldiers that volunteered to be there.

Bosnia was no Iraq or Afghanistan where the soldiers are mostly in barracks and the mission is mired in shame. In Bosnia the Canadians pulled off some real heroics putting their lives on the line as peace keepers vulnerable to the utmost, walking the line daily with waring parties on all sides showing no respect for blue helmets.

Lets not forget when push came to shove our counterparts cowered and turned a blind eye while thousands were slaughtered in ethnic cleansing. Who can forget the shame of blue helmets chained to lamp posts as hostages during that time. Think of the Dutch and Srebrenica where they coward as 8000 boys were led from their homes and slaughtered in mass graves in a single night. The Serbs were considered the best equipped and well trained troops in Eastern Europe at the time.

Let us also not forget Operation Medak Pocket where in contrast to the cowardice of the Europeans the Canadians stood tall and proud and honorable. Considered the most fierce fighting in Europe since the second world war and the fiercest fighting by Canadians since the Korean war.

These guys disobeyed UN orders to retreat and instead stood their ground against the full onslaught of the Croatian Army that was sent to ethnically cleanse the Serbian town of Medak. We could have easily walked away and let the Serbs who were the monsters at the time get what they had coming to them. The Europeans worried if we resisted it would spark a wider European war (cowards). Instead the Canadians stood their ground and would not allow ethnic cleansing on their watch, and the Croatians lost multiple dozen of their best soldiers in a night of fighting before they realized they were up against Canadians that would not allow them to pass… and the Croatian leadership realized they weren’t dealing with Europeans and called off their mission.

These guys took it upon themselves to stand up for what was right and not take the easy route of retreat offered to them by the European leadership at the time. That took guts and courage and made our country proud… its right up there for individual courage in the annals of Canadian military history… unsurpassed in modern history and is a testament to the actions of the entire Canadian force that was operating over there at that time. Even the Croatians after the war paid honor to the Canadians for stopping their country from making a big big mistake that would have been a black mark on their fledgling independence.

I would just like to take the opportunity to thank Greg Matters for being associated with one of Canada’s proudest moments in modern times. For that he deserves the benefit of the doubt in my books.

Thank you eagleone he was a true soldier who tried to make things right in this world today. Without guys like him who knows where humanity would be today

Thank you

For many years I have read the numerous posts to news stories on this site. I finally feel compelled to now voice my own opinion.
As a friend of the Matters family many points need to be addressed in this horrific series of events. I admit my questions and comments are presumptive as the “Independent Inquiry” has yet to be completed. An inquiry that one would hope eventuates with full disclosure of the events that have transpired and where responsibility or culpability truly resides. In any case I will continue with the facts that I do know. Greg served his country in Bosnia and returned a different person. Yes it is true that he was in court, post Bosnia, however there was nothing to my knowledge that would necessitate 30 armed officers and the use of deadly force. It was said in RCMP press releases that a “Stand Off” occurred. In my experience (Australian Officer Training) a stand-off is between two armed (Firearm) parties. It was posted previously “Who brings and axe to a gunfight” rather it should have read “Who brings a gun to an axe fight”. RCMP are trained, as I have been to shoot for centre of mass (kill shot) however in military training you expect that the other party is armed and has a definite intention of killing you. If Greg was threatening with an axe, and if for whatever reason, tasers, beanbags, pepper spray, batons, etc. were unavailable and the supposed last resort was a firearm, then why did they not shoot to incapacitate, ie. extremities. The reason is because they are not trained to incapacitate.
This sad story touches on other areas of society, morals and conscience as well. How do we as a civilized society taking into consideration the sacrifices that we take for granted of those who stand proudly beneath the Canadian flag? The ones that protect others that are oppressed in foreign nations, who are incapable of defending themselves. How do we as a nation embrace and assist returning veterans who have seen and experienced horrors that are indescribable to the common person? For the many that are commenting on this story…Please….Please, imagine your partner, your life long friend your brother your sister beside you pleading for help as they die a horrific death———–. Can you in good conscience believe that you would return to your “normal” life and not be adversely effected by the events that you have experienced ?
The following points must be addressed:
1) RCMP training use of deadly force
2) Alternative non-lethal options
3) Veterans Support and Resources
4) Mental Health and Treatment
5) Independent Civil Inquiry

Immigrant….well said.

In China, they shoot you for selling drugs, maybe we should quit being such bleeding hearts. If we didnt have policeman, it would be like mexico here.Just because someone was in the army, doesnt mean you can break the law.

Although I do not know all the details it sounds like a case of suicide by cop.

I don’t think anyone is saying because he was in the army, he should get a pass on breaking the law. The issue is – he was in the army – he served in a combat role in the hellhole of humanity – came home with mental illnesses – and couldn’t get adequate treatment – which MAY have contributed to his death – which makes this a tragedy. The lack of funding for veteran mental issues isn’t a big kept secret.

That said, in spite of the fact Canada is borrowing money to pay it’s bills, every day, we have money to give to third world countries, we have money for cabinet ministers to stay in 5 star hotels, and, if Iran doesn’t smarten up, you can be sure we’ll find money to send even more troops over there to fight in yet another war that isn’t our problem – and then short change the troops when they get home.

Amazing how we can always find money for the things we really want – isn’t it. Now we have a dead veteran, and likely an RCMP officer who isn’t doing so well either – because contrary to the opinion of some, cops don’t get off on killing people.

Nothing like a story like this to bring out all the armchair cops / cop haters.

Posted by: Albus Antiquus Vir on September 11 2012 4:13 PM

Probably time to hear the other side of the story. Things seem pretty one sided here.
————————————–
Posted by: JohnnyBelt on September 12 2012 9:14 AM

Nothing like a story like this to bring out all the armchair cops / cop haters.
————————————-

I find those comments especially interesting since in most cases of the reporting of these kinds of incidents on here the one sidedness is the reverse.

For once we have people posting about the state of mind of the individual. Why? Because he had a military background? Because one or more people who were related/acquainted to/with him allowed them to see another side?

I think lonesome sparrow has certainly introduced a viable scenario. Suicide by cop.

Here is a different scenario, but shows that it is not uncommon. The debate is whether it is suicide or homicide. It can make a difference to survivors.

http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2012/06/30/widow-in-insurance-limbo

Here ishow a nation more experienced with the military coming home handles those soldiers who hve some not so uncommon issues – Crisis intervention teams for vets.

http://nation.time.com/2012/08/22/crisis-intervention-teams-for-vets-sure-beats-jail

” …. the nation’s police departments are increasingly concerned about how to safely interact with that small slice of veterans who may be suicidal, disruptive or violent.

“Although hard data is scarce, police are increasingly being involved in domestic violence, barricades, and “suicide-by-cop” scenarios. The news is full of “seemingly trigger-happy police interacting with the mentally ill.”

“CIT) training is the name given to training that police get on how to interact with the mentally ill. First developed in Memphis, Tennessee, the training has spread to police departments across the nation.

“The basic premise is how to promote safe interactions between police and those with mental illness or other behavioral issues. CIT is also about partnerships and collaboration with behavioral health providers, family members and consumers.”

I assume we have similar training here. Does anyone know?

Finally some responsible and truthful posts! Thank you immigrant and ski50 for speaking some sense on this Topic. Slimdawg no one is argueing with you that this isn’t a tragedy, but you seem to know like you were standing there and know everything which is likely not the case. Whether the past has contributed to this situation is irrelevant. Breaking the law is breaking the law and the situation he created cost him his life. I’m sure the officer that showed up on the scene was not aware of all of the neglect this man has faced from the government. The officer merely reacted to the situation. Now the real question is what actually transpired, all of us on here are guessing. Everything points to a man attacking a cop with an axe which then result in a deadly shooting. If that is the case then it should be closed end of story.

gus: “I find those comments especially interesting since in most cases of the reporting of these kinds of incidents on here the one sidedness is the reverse.”

I find it interesting that considering all that was said in this thread, that you found my (and other poster’s) one-line comments to be interesting. I guess I should take it as a compliment.

Superdave ,no i was not there, but my knowlegde of what happened that night and the past leading to this day is pretty strong. Im not saying he didnt break the law. Im sure u have broken the law a few times whether it be speeding ,drinking or driving ,or beating on a significant other, we all have broken the law at some point in our life, but is that just cause for death,no. Next time you get pulled over for speeding should you be shot as you said breaking the law is breaking the law sowhy not?. The situation was not only created by him but the people who let him down,years of searching for help but only to be rejected at every corner. He tried to better himself with no success and help from the one who could. This wasnt an outta the blue thing that happened,it been going on for sometime. The athorities knew of his past his trouble ,my question was why wasnt something done sooner. knowing that essentiallyhe was a ticking time bomb. Instead they stick him back into society with no help no where to go!! Where did you get your facts that he attacked a officer with a axe, all reports say was the victim had a axe. Thats the problems people read shit then put it into there own words. When you start losing trust in all around you your world gets pretty small i hope noone experiences the stuff he went through ,and people open there eyes to what really goes on .

Chevy:
Thanks for that. Similar with the Wiley Inquest, people don’t get the full picture unless you sit there and hear it, AND understand it.

Slimdawg you are the one reporting he had an axe. That hasn’t been reported in any media other then from your posts on here. When I said “breaking the law is breaking the law” I was referring to the incident that happened. Don’t go making things up to change my story and then imply I’ve beat my wife. And again you continue to blame the past that had absolutely nothing to do with this officers decision and the outcome of this event. The past is a tragedy everyone respects our war veterans and what they have sacrificed for Canada and the world. But this story is about what happened the other night and the decision that officer had to make. I can only ASSUME The officer was forced to respond in this matter out of threat to his/her self or fellow officers lives. Whatever your past, present or future, was, is or will be does not justify doing that.

Hey superdave instead of jumping into the middle of a conversation why dont you look back to the beginning of these post im not the one who implied that he had axe.not changing the story at all just giving an examples of breaking the law, which all i stated are law breaking activities.corrent. so dont say ” breaking the law is breaking the law”.

And as for the comment that you beat your wife that comment was thrown in there just like you comment he must have attcked a officer with the axe. You dont know what happened that night aswell i dont know what happens in you household,could be true could be false we dont know . So what makes you so special that you can put thing into your own words .so dont ASSUME that anything until you get yourfacts straight