Regina’s police chief has offered an apology to a man who launched a public complaint alleging mistreatment at the hands of officers more than one year ago.
Simon Ash-Moccasin was walking along a street in downtown Regina when two police officers searching for a suspect arrested him, even though he did not match the description of the suspect. The Public Complaints commission said in a ruling Thursday that the officers used excessive force during the arrest.
In a recent private meeting with Ash-Moccasin, Police Chief Troy Hagen offered an apology, and a pledge that all Regina police officers will undergo a "refresher course" on how to make an arrest. But Hagen says the officers will not receive any disciplinary action, and confirms refresher courses will be part of regular retraining they would have had to undergo anyway.
There was also no mention of what the officers did or did not put in their written report about the incident, or why Ash-Moccasin was turned away from the police station when he tried to file a complaint about the arrest.
It isn’t the first time Regina police officers have been accused of excessive force while taking someone into custody or of not following proper procedure in filling out paperwork. The force has also been accused of racism in the past, though Hagen says there is no evidence that this latest incident had anything to do with discrimination.
Ash-Moccasin says he hopes his experience can act as a guide for others.
Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Dale Hunter
