Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2016
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.thespec.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Carmela Fragomeni
Page: A4

CORONER'S INQUEST PROPOSALS COVER POT, POLICE, YOUTH WORKERS

18 recommendations from Chinnery jury focus on prevention,
reaction

A coroner's jury looking into the shooting death of Andreas Chinnery
by police is proposing wide-ranging recommendations, from controlling
young people's marijuana use to police using lapel cameras.

The jury made 18 recommendations Monday, adopting all of the
suggestions made by the parties with standing - those with a direct
interest - and then added three of its own.

Chinnery had turned 19 just five weeks before he was shot and killed
on Feb. 2, 2011 in his Barton Street East apartment by an officer
responding to a call about a disturbance in his unit.

Police had received a non-emergency call followed later by a 911 call,
from tenants in the six-unit building about smashing noises, banging
on walls, plaster falling and threats and yelling coming from
Chinnery's apartment.

Responding officers Const. Mike McNaughton and Const. Bryan Spencer,
testified about hearing someone yelling "Die bitch, die" and feared
someone inside was being harmed.

They testified they pounded on the door and it was flung open by a
bat-wielding Chinnery who refused their commands to drop the bat.

The officers said everything happened in seconds and there was no time
to do anything but draw their guns.

Chinnery was shot twice by McNaughton after he swung the bat and then
approached them, ready to swing again, according to the officers.

The jury found that Chinnery died as a result of a
homicide.

Coroner William Lucas had explained a finding of homicide is
appropriate and in this case, it is not a criminal finding - it just
means "the death resulted from the action of one human being on another."

Chinnery's father Robert thanked the jury and said, "We can honour his
memory now."

The Chinnery family was represented by agent Pati Main.

The other parties were the Hamilton police Service, the officers
involved (represented by lawyer Gary Clewley), the Provincial Advocate
for Children and Youth (PACY) and the Ontario Ministries of Children
and Youth Services, and of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Main had suggested specialized training for call takers and
dispatchers to recognize calls involving mental illness - and to
ensure they give effective information, "rather than assumptions," to
officers responding to calls.

The inquest had heard from tenant Christina Batari that she called
police on a non-emergency line to report the loud noises and yelling
coming from Chinnery's apartment.

Main said Batari "indicated her neighbour may be crazy on six
different occasions throughout the conversation."

But the dispatch to police said it was a disturbance with a male
"screaming at a female, apparently it's an ongoing thing with this
couple," Main recapped.

Police learned Chinnery was alone in his unit after he was
shot.

The inquest heard he was possibly experiencing a psychotic episode
brought on by the daily use of marijuana at a young age.

A Hamilton police communications trainer testified that call takers
and dispatch operators get considerable training, including on mental
health issues.

She didn't know why the information relayed to the officers is
different from what was heard from Batari.

Main also suggested more effective mental illness training for
dispatchers and police.

The five day inquest heard from 20 witnesses, including an addictions
psychiatrist, a youth worker, and a Hamilton police use of force trainer.

- -----------------------------------------

[sidebar]

CORONER'S JURY RECOMMENDATIONS:

To governments:

1. If marijuana becomes legal, determine appropriate age for
use.

2. Regulate potency and warn of increased risks.

3. Have packages warn of potential psychological or physical
risks.

4. Raise public awareness about the risks, especially for
youth.

5. Educate on the early signs and symptoms of mental
illness.

To Children and Youth Services Ministry:

6. Incorporate psychological screening for youth at
risk.

7. Have supervisors ensure youth workers revise plans that are not
working.

8. Implement motivational interviewing to better understand
youth.

9. Hold annual audits of youth workers' assessments and plans to
ensure compliance.

10. Educate youth workers on the importance of meeting youth in their
own environment.

To Hamilton Police:

11. Increased dispatch training to ensure clear information is
relayed.

12. Review use of force with people in crisis for better
training.

13. Make youth workers aware of police youth programs.

14. Investigate how to increase positive interactions with
youth.

15. Educate young adults on the Crisis Outreach and Support Team
(COAST).

16. Investigate use of officer lapel cameras.

17. Use this case for scenario learning in police training.

18. Do scenario training on disarming techniques other than gun use.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt