accountability--not cover up is what this investigation is supposed to be -- no passing the buck- make an honest accurate inquest - the truth must come out or confidence in the government, the judicial process,and the R.C.M.P. WILL BE LOST FOREVER,you cannot backpedal the people's confidence.Do your job don't fail this country.

People already have their minds made up. Any conclusion other than guilt for the member accused will result in cries of cover-up and conspiracy, comparisons to facists or nazis, and other juvenile criticisms.
The police really can't win.

I agree with raparee. There are a lot of folks screaming for accountability and justice but only a few who forward ideas on how the system can be improved. As long as people are not trying to grind axes (and let me be clear, i am NOT accusing the two women in the article of this) then people should feel free to contribute to the debate. If, however, one feels that the police officer involved is guilty, or for that matter innocent, without hearing and weighing all the facts then you are part of the problem, not the solution.

Those two women are there to support Ms. Lewis and hold her hand in dealing with the death of Mr. Lewis. They are there for her because that's what good people do. Wish I could've gone myself. As the inquest unfolds then let the opinions flow.

Feels good to be back!

Williams Lake? RCMP? Hmmm? I vaguely remember the name Fred Quilt. That name will never leave my mind for some reason.

Heidi! Welcome back. Where have you been Heiding?

lol...thanks Mr.Pulper. Just keeping busy :) Any baby yet? What do you think of this case so far?

My you have a good memory Heidi. Our little Girl should be hatching within a week. This case is an odd one for me and I really don't have a position. I feel for the mother, and it seems that a harmless situation just went horribly wrong. I can't really put blame on the officer as we truly don't know how it all went down. However, being cuffed to a tree while wounded perplexes me, he was a small man with a hole in the chest, and survived without medical assistance for maybe half an hour. If he was still coherent, why couldn't he be loaded into cruiser and driven to medical help?

As for statements that he was a nice guy. Perhaps, but did he fear being returned home, maybe outstanding warrants? Mr Lewis could have went peacefully if he had nothing to hide. The lady that called police because she feared for her safety might have been justified in doing so. What might a homeless man living outdoors resort to when weather turned for the worse? Or became hungry?

Still, I feel the officer might have been able to save him, perhaps he was too traumatized to think rationally. Seems like a tragic blunder. Where do we go from here? Do we stop reporting suspicious activity or persons for fear that this might happen to someone else?

Police need more training. Yes. At fault here. Not in my opinion.

Well we just need to follow our guts more when reporting someone. Not blaming this lady at all for calling as she felt she should do it but sometimes we are too quick to act. There is a homeless man that lives in the bushy area of Cottonwood Island Park which i've walked a lot lately. Have to know how to read a strangers body language. At Rainbow park the other day a mentally challenged 20ish year old male was there alone walking towards others quite fast then stopping as soon as he approached them and reached out his hand to shake their hand. He then came towards me and was talking but he was so hard to understand. He pointed towards the swing. I asked, "You want to go on the swing?" He laughed and got all excited, ran to swing and sat on it. I pushed him on the swing...lol. Went with my gut. Now these stories seem not to fit the article but only because nobody got hurt or killed. Maybe more training in reading body language along with many more things.

Huge congrats to you and your wife and I wish her very little pain!!!

Thanks and Ouch. You might remember once I said something like we shouldn't be so eager to judge people. And you are right, we as society should be able to identify with all kinds of people and offer compassion. I believe our new world anti-social climate is much to blame. Many able bodied people bury themselves in their homes maintaining a media frenzied existence, choosing not to mingle with the neighbours etc.. etc.. We are placing financial gain over humanity. I moved back to the small town life from which I ran away from, only to learn that I should never have left. Real people live in smaller communities.

:) Isn't life a crazy ride? The best part of your ride is soon to come.


I wonder if this officer was messed up from Bosnia then put on the cop uniform??? Can't help but wonder.

You may be correct in that assumption. I have a friend who also was in Bosnia, he has his wits about him, although confesses to what extent the matters he endured and witnessed have forever changed him. He relives the nightmares daily, yet manages. He is a big teddy bear, but admits himself he never wants to hold a weapon again.

The screening process needs improvement. Their excuse is low numbers entering the force and so they pick from bottom of the barrel. That right there should be a crime. The publics best interest is not being taken into consideration.

Ok off my butt I go....again!!! Have a good day and good luck in the following days.