Four RCMP members are expected to take the witness stand as the coroner’s inquest into the mass stabbing on James Smith Cree Nation enters day three.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Ryan Case was first to speak at the public hearing in Melfort on Wednesday.
Case, the current commander at the Melfort RCMP detachment, explained his history and experience in policing, including some time spent at the detachment in Indian Head, where RCMP worked with the File Hills First Nations Police Service.
The questioning from lawyers centered around how police deal with warrants, drugs, and the RCMP’s relationship with JSCN’s security team.
Case said drugs and the drug trade are a concern in all areas around Melfort, including JSCN and that those investigations tend to be more complicated because the crime doesn’t usually happen out in the open.
Starting the third day at the inquest here with RCMP Staff Sergeant Ryan Case. We're expecting to hear from four witnesses from RCMP today. pic.twitter.com/tpNsLLnmtL
— Lisa Schick (@LMSchickler) January 17, 2024
His comments follow Tuesday’s presentation from RCMP Staff Sergeant Robin Zentner, who showed messages which seemed to indicate the drug trade was related to some of the actions Myles Sanderson took in September 2022.
Case explained there is concern about people not reporting crime, particularly drug-related crimes, due to a fear of retribution. He said that is a hurdle police need to overcome.
There were several questions about how the Melfort RCMP deals with warrants and people who are unlawfully at large. Case explained those lists are checked regularly to see who needs to be apprehended and assigned to members.
Case also spoke about the newly established security team on JSCN, saying the relationship is positive, but there are still many things that only the police can do.
The staff sergeant also talked about the number of staff he has at the detachment. He said the workload is heavy for the officers. Case said he’s fully staffed but would always accept more officers if available.
Read more:
- Day 1: Jury selection, first witness at James Smith Cree Nation inquest
- Day 2: Emotions intensify as testimony continues at JSCN inquest
Currently, and it appears at the time of the stabbings, police are not working 24 hours a day. There are two ten-hour shifts, but there are four hours in the early morning, where officers are only on-call.
When asked to describe staffing levels in Saskatchewan for RCMP, Case called it “less than desirable.”
The inquest will hear from the responding officers that day and the detachment commander at the time.
Around 30 witnesses will speak at the inquest into the deadly mass stabbing — the largest ever held in the province.
