Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Police Execution of Paul Boyd
I think this is the most disturbing video I've ever seen.
Paul Boyd, a mentally ill man in Vancouver crawls towards police after being shot seven times.
And is finished off with a shot to the head.
The August, 2007, death of Paul Boyd is under the spotlight again after video surfaced this week that appears to show him on his hands and knees before the fatal shot is fired.
Check out the slow-mo video and ask yourself how could this happen?
Then ask yourself what kind of report is this?
“Mr. Boyd approached the officers on the roadway in an aggressive manner. During the course of events, Constable [Lee] Chipperfield fired nine shots at Mr. Boyd over a span of 80 seconds, striking Mr. Boyd with eight of these shots,” the report said. The incident ended with a fatal shot to Mr. Boyd’s head. The 39-year-old illustrator was pronounced dead at the scene.
Is this JUSTICE?
B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch twice decided against charging Constable Chipperfield, advising there was insufficient evidence he used excessive force. The officer remains on active duty with Vancouver police.
I know some mentally ill people can be capable of enormous strength, and can even become violent when psychotic and frightened. I've seen it with my own eyes. But since when are police officers allowed to execute a badly wounded man?
Tell me I'm still living in Canada eh?
Because I don't believe it...
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All police forces should be required to wear head mounted camera units similar to the GO-PRO and also record all sound.
ReplyDeleteThere is considerable evidence of the police "brotherhood" acting to protect the illegal actions of fellow officers. Since the evidence given by police cannot be trusted, and since it is acknowledged that the stress of events may distort judgement and recollection, such recording devices should be made mandatory. If the officer is at an "event" and his recording device is found to be "not working" that would be grounds for termination.
We pay these folks a huge amount. The fully burdened labour cost of even a junior officer is over $250,000 per year. They need to be held accountable.
hi anonymous... I agree with you that police need to be monitored more closely. But I believe that what is even more important is that they receive better training on how to deal with the mentally ill. For far too many mentally ill people are being killed and it's simply intolerable. Some police forces, especially ETF units, are getting that kind of training,but too many ordinary constables are not. And the results are tragic...
DeleteOh Simon.
ReplyDeleteThis is not really Canada.
I don't know what happened to Canada, but I am going to do my best to help find it and bring it back.
I am wearing a red patch out here in BC. When I tell people who ask that I am in solidarity with the students and citizens of Quebec, they all say, "oh yeah, good idea." I am heartened.
I have helped organize a Blackmark Budget action in my home, (http://blackmark.leadnow.ca/)of which there are more all across the country. I plan to wear my red patch, and take a pot and a wooden spoon.
I couldn't watch the videos. The sound they played on my local early morning newscast made me weep. Just seeing Paul's name on your blog made me weep.
I'm so sorry if your heart is as broken as mine. I swear, I am trying really hard to find a way to put them back together.
hi Karen...it breaks my heart to think that Boyd, who was a gentle illustrator and by all accounts a very nice person, could have been shot seven times while in a psychotic state, and as is usually the case far more frightened of police than they should have been of him. But yes I find this consistent with everything else that is going on in this country, and I blame the Harper regime for brutalizing our values. So good for you for standing up for the Quebec students and for a better Canada. United we will defeat them...
DeleteWell, they shipped a bad cop to BC, from another province. BC seems to get all the degenerates. We have enough bad cops in BC as it is, we are on overload.
ReplyDeleteBC's judicial system, is the most corrupt in Canada. Police punishment in BC is, a years paid leave of absence, and/or, a transfer to another detachment. Any cop crime going to court, the criminal cop is set free, to kill again.
Poor Robert murdered by police at Vancouver Airport. He was scared. He couldn't even speak English. He was very afraid of police in his own country, only to find the police in Canada, are worse than in his own nation. All they needed to do, was find someone who could speak Roberts language. One of the RCMP in Robers case, was set free and he killed another victim.
Chipperfield murdered Boyd, Mafia execution style, or as a Brown Shirt.
hi anonymous...I don't know much about the police in BC, except for the unforgivable way they handled the tragedy of the missing women. And of course, I can never forget what happened to that poor gentle giant at the Vancouver airport. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Americanization of our society had a lot to do with it. With guns replacing our more peaceful genius for negotiation. And the Harper government's militarization of Canada fanning the flames of violence. One way or the other both have got to go...
DeleteThis was an execution, unquestionably.
ReplyDeletehi Mound...I hesitated a bit, before using the word execution. But after watching the video a few times I couldn't think of any other word to describe what I was watching. Seven bullets is bad enough, but the final one, with so many other officers on the scene, is in my opinion simply unforgivable...
DeleteB.C. does not have over sight of police officers. There is no independant, non police officer type organization to review these types of things. There needs to be civilian participation in oversight.
ReplyDeleteI understand the police have a difficult job but I also believe there are many officers who are not suited to the position. They aren't trained properly, no psychological evaluations done prior to hiring, & too frequently new police officers do not have mentors to work with.
We have had a number of people killed in B.C. by police officers & there are no repercussions. There was a young man killed in an northern RCMP detachment. He'd been arrested for drinking beer outside an arena.
The other issue in B.C. is, there is little or no help for people who are mentally ill.
I remember when the killing of Boyd took place. The current video was not available but there were witnesses which led me to believe Boyd wasn't a danger. The guy had a bicyle chain. I know they can be dangerous, but really just stand back. People dont always respond immediately to police orders, but that doesn't give the police the right to kill them.
I think in cases such as this & similar ones, the problem is that the police officers of today simply do not know how to fight. If they did they won't be so frightened of a violent or semi violent person. Police have shot & killed people who were branishing knives standing on a porch. there isn't any need for that if you know how to deal with someone with a knife in their hand. All these cops carry batons. Don't they know how to use them. It really isn't that hard to use one if you are trained.
What I don't understand is why the other police officers stood around & let Chipperfield shot Boyd in the head. I suspect because they all were frozen. It is hard to know if Chipperfield was so callous that he fired the head shot or that he was os out of it when firing he couldn't stop. A shrink should have been able to examine him on this to determine whether he was competent to continue in his job.
hi e.a.f...you raise a lot of good points. I understand that police officers need to defend themselves, but nothing I saw in that video will ever convince me that Paul Boyd was threat to them after being shot. I also agree that police officers need to be better trained to defend themselves without resorting to lethal force. But from what I know, and from what I've been reading recently, I think one of the biggest problems is that the media and society stereotype mentally ill people as dangerous to others. When in fact most of them are not. And police need to be trained how to deal with psychotic people, how to talk them down, reassure them, and deal with the situation by negotiation rather than force.
DeleteSo I'm hoping that not only will justice be served in this case, but also that we can learn from it so others are not hurt. Which would be the best legacy poor Paul Boyd could have left...
There are many officers who are not suited to the position; this comment sums it up.
ReplyDeletehi anonymous...that's true as it is true of any other job. It's just more important to weed out those who are not suited for police work, since unlike the others they are armed...
DeletePaul Boyd was a friend of mine for more than 20 years, he was a kind, gentle, intelligent man who was burdened with a disease. It was very hard for me (and everyone else I am sure) to watch the recent video of him crawling on his hands and knees and being executed. He did not deserve this.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry for your loss, Anon.
DeletePaul's father was interviewed on CBC Radio and he spoke so eloquently and lovingly of his son. He was so gracious as to extend respect to those officers who did not act like Chipperfield. I don't think I could forgive the other officers for not intervening.
His father let us know that despite his medical condition, Paul was a talented and kind man.
This what concerns me, looking at the video it seems that VPD is sending a message to the public that if you hurt one of our brothers you will pay in blood regardless. I hope that this is not their silent code. The video is troubling as if the cops were guarding the perimiter to let their executioner do his job. That bothers me a lot...it's like "Dirty Harry" movie. Thank God that he ruled "What you sew you shall reap" and so eventually all these perpetrators will have to pay up even if it takes 5 years...Yes there is God!
Deletehi anonymous...I'm very sorry that you lost a friend and in such a horrible way. Everybody who knew him says he was a kind and gentle person, so having him killed in such a callous way must be simply unbearable. As I said above, let's hope that his death will not be in vain. All the best to you and all his other friends...
DeleteBasing on this new evidence and what the trials came up with in 2007, Chipperfield should be charged for "Manslaughter" and the rest of VPD present in the incident be charged appropriately. These men were under oath when they were inquired of the incident in court. They totally lied to cover-up. This kind of cover-up should stop / discouraged and I totally agree for them all to wear cams. I pray for the family of Paul as they relive this and for the Alberta investigators to reveal the truth and recommend the proper steps or prosecution so justice will prevail....so help us God!
ReplyDeleteCorrection to this...there was no trial...but the police's statements are still binding. Paul's father should consider hiring a lawyer. These unacceptable incidents should be address as a major wake-up call to all police and therefore Mr. Chipperfield should be Charged appropriately in the eye of the public.
Deletehis anonymous...I haven't read the full report, so I don't know what exactly all the officers at the scene said. But judging from what I did read they appear to have made Paul Boyd seem a threat even after he was shot seven times. And I find that impossible to believe....
DeleteI learned that Commissioner Chiu went to the family and promised that he will do what investigators' findings recommend ASAP. I challenge Mr. Chiu to live up to his promise and restore the VPD's bad reputation as well as the Crown prosecutors to restore Justice to the current pathetic justice system in BC.
ReplyDeleteMr Chiu should suspend Chipperfield and be disarmed while this investigation is undergoing. He poses as danger to Society and Taxpayers like us
Deletehi anonymous...I only hope that the police will move quickly to review the incident, because it has dragged on for far too long, and until it is resolved people in Vancouver can't have full confidence in their police force. As far as I'm concerned, it's as simple as that...
DeleteI hope Lee Chipperfield thinks of Paul everyday - Paul crawling towards him on his hands and knees as Lee shoots Paul in the head. I hope Lee is burdened with this the rest of his life and suffers because of it. This makes me sick, in a third world country we might hear about behaviour like this, but in Canada?!?!
ReplyDelete