This is from the Ottawa Citizen.
That the fire captain should give testimony of this sort shows how upset he must have been at the police reaction. Everyone has seen the video and this testimony simply confirms what many people have thought on viewing it, namely that the police reaction to put it very mildly was inappropriate.
Cops 'obstructed' aid to Dziekanski: Fire captain
'Nobody seemed to be doing anything,' said firefighter
By Suzanne Fournier, Canwest News ServiceJanuary 28, 2009
Richmond Fire Capt. Kirby Graeme, the first responder to reach Robert Dziekanski after he was Tasered by four RCMP officers at Vancouver's airport, called the Mounties "unprofessional" for not going to the aid of the Polish immigrant.
Graeme also told the Thomas Braidwood inquiry into Dziekanski's death Tuesday that, in his opinion, the RCMP "obstructed" paramedics' attempts to help Dziekanski.
Dziekanski was lying motionless facedown after several Taser jolts and being kneed in the back, his hands handcuffed behind his back and his face to the left and his eyes open.
"Nobody seemed to be doing anything," said Graeme, who asked one of the RCMP officers what had happened.
"He said, 'We Tasered him and nothing happened, so we Tasered him twice more, and he's been facedown.'"
The RCMP officers didn't administer first aid to Dziekanski, who was motionless.
The officers won't be criminally charged but are expected to testify at the inquiry.
Graeme said he asked one of the RCMP officers, Const. Kwesi Millington, to remove the handcuffs so first responders could assist Dziekanski.
He said Millington refused, saying, "He's been violent, we're not going to take the cuffs off."
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
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