Senior inspector testifies on third day of inquiry THE RCMP E-Division headquarters in Vancouver changed its policy regarding the types of fircarms police officers may carry while on the job following the shooting of an unarmed burglary suspect at a North Vancouver church last year, a senior RCMP official testified Wednes- day. fnsp, Mervin Harrower was giving evidence during the thisd day of an RCMP Public Com- plaints Commission inquiry ex- amining the actions of Vancouver RCMP Col. Glenn Mfagark. Mapgark was working with a North Vancouver RCMP burglary squad on Jan, 17, 1992, when be and other officers attended break-and-snter call at the Sutherland Bible Chapel, located at 630 Bas 19th St. in North Vancouver. A subsequent search of the building resuhed in Magark shooting Shayne Hawkes, then 18, in the upper chest. Magark was armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. Only RCMP cmergency response team (ERT) members «were authorized to carry 9 min handguns at the time. Although Mogark was an ERT member, he was working with the burglary section. Ail gencral duty patrol members were only authorized to carry .38-calibre " service revolvers. The commission held its inquiry this week to determine if Magark violated RCMP policy with respect to the weapon and whether he used excessive force. Harrower testified that the RCMP changed its policy three months after the shooting. The police department’s new By Surj Rattan News Reporter policy allows RCMP ERT members to carty thelr 9 mm handguns at all dines and allows police dog handlers to carry 9 mm handguns. Under questioning by contmis- slon counsel Pierre Delage, Hur- rower suid there is no specific RCMP policy that addresses the issue of when an officer draws a firearm, “Policy is basically a guideline to our members. Brench of policy is not a disciplinary offence, it's a performance issue,’ said Har- rower, Under cross-examination by Magark's lawyer Ken Ball, Har- rower said RCMP ERT members carry 9 mm semi-automatic haad- guns because they are ‘technically far superior” than other weapons. He added that the weapons be- ing carried today by most crimi- nals are more sophisticated than RCMP weapons. “Is a safety issue for the members and the general public that the member carry the weapon he is most comfortable with, and in this (Magark’s) case it is the (9 mm) semi-automatic weapon,” said Harrower. North Vancouver RCMP Const. Kenneth Duffin, one of the three police officers who entered (he church, testified that the police had called for a dog unit, but that the wit had not arrived on the scene when he, Magark and Const, Brad) Marks entered the church, “Cpl, Magark hind advised me not to search alone, bul you have fo muke a decision. ft was a high-risk decision,’ sald Duffin, who added that he had gone dawn a flight of stirs in the churety by himself and searched the area, Heo suid Magark and Marks were Ino a different part of the building at the time. “As iim coming back up the sttirs, that's when the gun shot went off," testified Duftin. He said he paused at the top of the stniss before going outside to the church parking lot. “fcan hear Const, Marks cull- ing for an ambulance, | went back inside. down to the area where Shayne Hawkes was lying on his back in the bathroom,’' said Duf-. fin, Under cross-examination by Ball, Duffin said when he was outside in the parking let, one of twe suspects the police had in custody continued to deny there was anyone else in the church after Hawkes was shot. “He (suspect) said something to the effect: ‘What are they (police) shooting for? There’s nobody in- side.’ ”” Meanwhile, Hawkes, who is charged with break-and-enter, failed to appear for a preliminary hearing. Magark has not been charged in connection with the shooting. Tax levies rising, land sales declining . From page 3° ' Social planner Rupert Downing, * described _ by: one. councilfor as “the best and hardest working planrer we have ever had,”’ cata- logued in a private memo a series of 11 reports that he claimed were held up, altered or never cir- culated before. he left fo7 another job. PLANNING: ‘The planning department con- tinues to fall Sarther behind an -. already readjusied timeline for the creation and review of area of- ficial community plans (OCPs). The North Lonsdale/Delbrook OCP, scheduled for completion in 1991, still awaits its public hear- ing, while work on. ’92 and °93 targets (a review of the Seymour OCP, a review of the Deep Cove OCP and preparation of the Lynn Valley OCP) has yet to begin. Some Northlands golf course costs were not quile so obvious. Meanwhile, staff initiatives like the District Walk and council ini- tiatives like the Street Tree Plan were pushed ahead —. perhaps because of the possibilities of at- tracting both private and senior CINERSA 1 “STRIKING DISTANCE Nigity 7.05pm, Sa. & Sun 3pm Restricted 14 yrs. DRAGON Nightly &:55em Sat. & Sun. 4:45 Moure government monies. Surprisingly, any long-range planning initiative for Indian’ Arm, its access for residents and recreational users alike, has not been mentioned publicly despite Jengthy battles over marina use, piped water and private roads. THE FUTURE: Within 10 to 15 years, the ‘district must adjust to a budget not supplemented by land sates. ‘ How and when the Northlands golf course will be paid for, Ict alone return a profit, remains a moot point. What goes into and what comes out of the district’s heritage fund will become significantly more im- portant as Greater Vancouver Regional District tax levies con- tinue to rise and revenues from district land sales continue to decline. : Perhaps recent initiatives _ like user-pay drop-off fees for gar- bage disposal and the approval of a private enterprise ice rink are signposts to the future. But it is unlikely that they will provide the complete answer. Queen or Double size. 5 259 &, 1st, N.Van. iy (rear entrance) H 1D ~ F gem. 24 ues & Solid Pine Frame only 388 plus FREE cover and matching pillows if ENTERTAINMENT VALUE CINEMA 2 ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS Nightly 7pm, Sat. & Sun, 3:00pm Mature, occ. sugg. scenes, coarse Jang. RISING SUN Nightly 9pm, Sat. & Sun. 4:50pm R, some violence, nudity, sugg. scenes CINEMA 3 S—Ct*«‘“«;*‘«SSECRRET GARDEN . Nightly 6:45pm, Sat. & Sun. 3:05 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Nightly 8:35pm, Sat. & Sun. 4:50 Mature Carol Ann REYNOLDS W.V, Council Look For FLYER/ VOTING INFORMATION in North Shore News Wednesday, Novemoer 17th Issue 922-4400 926-1345 Do you need answers about Repistered Retirement income Funds? ® How much income should | take? * How long will my money last? © How much tax will I pay? The right answers to these and other RRIF questions could significantly improve your retirement inceme. Call The RRIF Hotline Today Hours: 9:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday pro ors i Financlat Service Inc. Building futures since 1940. Alfredo Sepulveda 2 An advocate for quality education. An expenenced social worker and effective community activist, Committed to Real Change. in Education. An involved parent cornmitted to children ‘ and education : Dedicated.to putting students first.