Review Uncovers RCMP Confusion and Communication Issues During Saskatchewan Mass Killing
A recent report on the response of the Mounties to a mass killing and manhunt in Saskatchewan has highlighted some communication issues, but overall, it did not significantly affect the outcome of the event.
Following the incident where Myles Sanderson killed 11 people and injured 17 others in the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, the police managed to capture him three days later. Unfortunately, Mr. Sanderson passed away due to a cocaine overdose shortly after being taken into custody.
A report conducted by Mounties in Alberta and released by the RCMP on June 6, 2022, assessed the police response and suggested areas for improvement in handling similar situations in the future.
The review team stated, “On a broad level, the review team did not identify any common underlying circumstance that significantly impeded the RCMP’s ability to manage the response to the (James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon) event.” It also highlighted the need for enhancements to future responses in similar scenarios.
The report’s team included a representative from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.
Although there were concerns raised by the James Smith Cree Nation regarding the response time to the stabbing rampage, the report concluded that the officers’ response time was appropriate and could not have been improved upon.
The report detailed the unfolding events after the initial report reached the Melfort RCMP detachment in less than six minutes on September 4, 2022. The response time was swift as officers arrived within 28 minutes of the incident.
