Renfrew man killed by police was 'mentally 12 years old'
'Mikey' posed no threat to officers, witnesses say
Suzanne Ma, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Monday, April 09, 2007
People who knew Mike Foster are outraged that police would shoot dead a man they say had the mental capacity of a 12-year-old.
Mr. Foster, 24, was killed Saturday night after Renfrew OPP were called to his home about 4:30 p.m. to deal with what police say was "a family dispute between two brothers."
According to police, when the officers arrived, Mr. Foster, who was armed, approached them and a "confrontation" ensued.
Mike Foster was shot by police in front of his Renfrew home, but witnesses say he was in the middle of the street and posed no immediate threat to officers, who were behind their cruiser.
Yesterday, those who knew Mr. Foster affectionately called him "Mikey" and said he lived at the home with his mother and 22-year-old brother.
He was on a disability pension and was supporting the family, after his father died last year of a heart attack.
Friend Norm Bujold said while he struggled with his disability, Mr. Foster was harmless.
"Mike was a good kid, maybe a little mixed up. He was slow, he struggled intellectually," said Mr. Bujold, who was a wrestling coach to Mr. Foster and his brother when they were children. "So when three police (officers) came to his house ... what did he do? With a guy who was mentally 12 years old, he came out with a knife."
Witnesses say they saw two police officers approach the house, while another officer stayed close to the cruiser. They could hear yelling, and then saw all three officers retreat behind the cruiser. Mr. Foster was then seen walking toward the officers, but when he got halfway across the road, there was the sound of a gunshot, and Mr. Foster fell to the ground.
Yesterday, the area around the Fosters' Bonnechere Street North home was cordoned off with yellow police tape. Officers placed yellow numbered placards on the pavement in front of the house to mark off a faint bloodstain and two green latex gloves commonly used by paramedics.
"He was right in the middle of the street. He wasn't even a threat," Mr. Bujold said. "The officers were not cornered. They could have used their billy sticks or pepper spray.
"One coward chose to kill him instead."
The investigation is now out of OPP hands. The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is probing the circumstances surrounded the shooting.
SIU communications manager Rose Bliss said a staff member has been designated to provide emotional support to the family throughout their investigation.
"We understand the family is distraught over his death," she said. "Right now, we are trying to independently gather and verify evidence surrounding the police shooting. We are still looking at information ... before we can make any factual statements as to what happened."
Wendy Bujold, an area resident, said Mr. Foster was well-known and liked in the neighbourhood.
"There must have been other ways to stop him ... other than shooting him," she said. "He was shot on the street like a dog."
(Hooray for stupidity! Honestly. I can't believe that they shot a man for carrying a knife. The kids I work with carry knives... I suppose I should invest in a gun... or better yet everytime there's a scuffle at the drop-in, I should call the cops and maybe they'll come in guns blazing! Give me a break. COPS are trained in unarmed combat and self-defence... they couldn't have used any other tactic! My sincere condolences go out to the family and friends who lost a loved one and I hope to God that you sue the police and slander their names and reputations as much as you can. It won't bring 'Mikey' back, but they have to pay for their actions... don't they say some bullshit about : Can't do the time, don't do the crime? I hope they're ready to do the time! MURDER IS MURDER!)
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11 comments:
I am mad and afraid. I have a 7 year old daughter who has similiar problems as mike who was shot dead by police. The SIU should definitely find something amiss. If they don't in my opinion they are as corrupt as the police force. It will definitely show they aren't civilian minded. I send my condolences and as a mother myself fear for my childs safety. As a community we need to stand up and take action. Please stand with the members of the community and take action so this doesn't happen again. I don't want to read my daughters obituary in the papers. These children even at 7 don't think or act the same way as most. When they are scared, rattled, or upset or even tired they can act out unexpectedly. TRAIN our police forces to act accordingly. Not throw a gun up and shoot them dead. As a community DO SOMETHING
I agree with you... The reason for this blog is because i want people to refuse to remain BLIND to the issues; I want them to get upset, to take a stand and to ensure the safety of our communities. Behavious like this is UNACCEPTABLE from any member of society and I hope that people will stand up and take action because people are dying.
There is a vigil for mike tomorrow. In Renfrew. I intend on being there. I agree w. We need people to take action and sit back. This issue affects everyone. I won't sit by and do nothing. I am upset, I am afraid and I am angry. so don't sit by and let nothing happen do something.
My deepest sympathy goes out to Mikeys family an friends there's no way to bring Mikey back but things have to change around here the cops all think their untouchable but are they ever going to get an awakening now from the public,,I am so beyond in words to say about this issue ,,that it makes my blood boil,,What the Hell was that cop thinking ,,rookie or not where did he do his training,, oh ya he was the one who fell asleep on that part of the training moran,,Lets see ok they give you a piece of tin to place on your shirt an call it a badge,,this goes to their heads making them feel that they are untouchable,,well i can cut a piece of tin out of a tomato soup can an act just like you,,that badge means nothing when you are crooked you commited a crime and You have to pay for it,,Just stop an think who pays your salary heres a reminder US the public now he (cop) was a very big mistake of money spent,,,This may make the sergeant do a better screening on the staff he has an will hire in the future,,An where will this cop go,,lets says he gets shipped off to another town where no one knows him,,but i think the public of his next town should be notified that a KILLER has moved into their town or city to protect them ,,wonder how long he will be employed there,,I know for sure he isnt wanted here,,,,,,,,gonewilddoe
This story added insult to injury:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=ba4ddfb5-b844-41b6-bb7f-e216742e1749&k=84848
An accused drug dealer, pointing a gun at police officers is suing because they shot and INJURED him during an arrest. The cops did NOT use lethal force on this assumably violent man WITH A GUN POINTED AT THEM; yet they open fire on a developmentally delayed man with a KNIFE?! There is a real problem in our society if we think that this is acceptable!
tonight they are having a candle light thing at the house for mike..i feel for thos that are left behind to deal with what happend..
I would like thank the community that showed up at the candlelight vigil tonight. It showed that there are many mothers, friends, family and others who really cared and we ARE going to show the OPP that we aren't going to be quiet and we aren't going to let this rest. The A- channel, CTV and many others were there. There are many letters to the editors of local papers that will express the disgust of this incident. Thanks W for the info on the injured drug dealer. Don't forget mikey lets keep this going fight for him and all the others who could end up that way.
I see both sides to this story. And it’s unfortunate for both. I understand that the family and friends are grieving for losing their son, brother, nephew and friend. A life was cut short and that is very unfortunate. And as a parent, I never want to put one of my children in the ground. I could not imagine losing a child.
If there was never a fear of Mike, if he never caused anyone any harm like everyone says, why did the mother call 911? Was she inviting them over for tea?
As a mother I am not afraid of any of my children, yes they are younger than mike and his brother, but I would never need to bring in extra forces to settle an argument or a fistfight! Not now and not 20 years from now.
The mother is 3 times the size of him. Why didn’t she just tackle him to the ground her self? Why didn’t she stop the fight?
FEAR that’s why! She was afraid of him, she knew what know one else will admit!
Lets get real he knew the police had been called and he obviously was not in the right frame of mind. We all know the police carry guns, He ran out of that house with a knife in his hand, big mistake. Police are trained to shoot anyone running with a knife and refusing to drop it, with in 50 feet. WHO BRINGS A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT?
They had guns; he should have dropped the knife. This part of the story is being forgotten.
What do people want? If this happened in Ottawa or Toronto, it would be no big deal. It would be over and done with long ago.
I lived in Renfrew my whole life, Renfrew is not what it used to be, it used to be a nice quite town, it used to be a nice place to raise a family and you could let your kids go anywhere and everywhere and feel safe that nothing bad was going to happen. You could leave your doors unlocked and nobody would come in, you could park your car anywhere and no one would steal it or the contents of it. That’s not Renfrew anymore not at all. Let’s wake up and look around. You can buy crack on the street for 5 bucks. That is not the police fault; they have not created any of these messes.
Something like this happens and people start talking about what they want to dream up and create a vision of what Renfrew is like. A second Mayberry and Andy Griffith should be stepping out of the town hall and placing people in jail for the night to sleep it off or settle down, and let’s not forget aunt bee who is going to bring the homemade cookies and make everything all right.
It is unfortunate when something like this happens anywhere.
Yes, I agree that Renfrew should still have town police, maybe that could have prevented this from happening; this is still not the fault of any officer. And maybe if they did still have town police we could have Norm Bojould as the chief, he seems to know it all anyway, I mean come on he taught wrestling, (no dysfunctional people ever come out of that sport) Please give it up!
No police officer ever wakes up in the morning and thinks he will have to use his gun that day, and the fact that he had to use it has to have some kind of affect on him. He has to go to bed at night knowing that he had to use his gun and knowing the result it had and he is well aware that a life was lost. Do you really think he is walking around smiling and attending victory parties?
He has to walk around a gossip filled opinionated town, and because of the situation and his profession cant even stand up for himself. He cant tell people what happened or why it happened, that he feared his life and the lives of his fellow officers just as the mother did when she called 911, and he cant say that he has a family himself at home that maybe he would never see again, all because people think he lives in Mayberry.
No instead, people decide that they can strip him and his family of dignity and drag his name through the mud and they can run the police into the ground for doing what we pay them to do. Serve and Protect that what he was doing, police are trained to do what ever it takes to protect the area that they work in. They are trained to use guns; they are not part of a costume or just an accessory. They are real they have bullets and they do work. That is a part of a uniform and they have no choice but to wear them and not just for decoration.
Do people realize that in order to become a police officer you have to pass major physiological exams? They make sure that you are capable of making these kinds of decisions and that you are in fact sane. And it’s not that easy to pass, you do have to psychologically fit. (I guess that leaves Norm out, if anyone is unbalanced, he is)
While everyone is sending flowers and donations to the family, that is very nice of you.
And my condolences go to the family.
I myself might send a thankyou note to Jamie Prince and the OPP for doing what they pledged to do.
Chantel
Chantal,
The reason I posted this story on my site to being with is because I think that the officers used poor judgement in this case.
You're right, his mother may have been afraid of her son; but that doesn't mean that he would have injured or killed anyone. All of the "what if's" in the world will not change the fact that a police officer shot someone when there may have been another way to resolve this issue. Millions of people suffer from mental health issues; ask the city cops if they have ever dealt with someone with a knife? The majority will say yes (especially here, in downtown Ottawa and in Hull on the weekends; next ask how many of them have shot someone for having a knife or broken bottle for that matter.
All I'm saying is that I think a mistake was made; I think more training is required; I think that officers should be permitted to state their case and say what they want to say after an incident such as this, the Police Unions should think about allowing this; I think a man was wrongfully murdered... Unfortunately, the officer involved AND the family of the victim will have to live with this everyday of their lives. The mother must receive support from the community because, asfterall, she is the one who called 911 for help and her son ended up being shot; the officer will need counselling and I think that the people of Renfrew, Ottawa, Ontario and Canada should be asking for inquiries when stuff like this happens. Police are not untouchable. As far as the police psychological exam goes; perhaps further discussion with test adminstrators and evaluators (off the record, or of course) would enlighten the public regarding what they are actually looking for in a candidate. The test doesn't really qualify or quantify sanity; in fact, in order to pass the test APPARENTLY, it's beneficial to have a couple screws loose... afterall nobody in their right mind would want to be a cop. As you said: they get scrutinized from all sides. I hope for this officer's sake, he can justify his actions. In my career, I have to justify my actions and my decisions because I work in Social Services and my decisions can have a positive or negative impact on people's lives. Everyone must be held accountable. And just to clarify, if this happened in Toronto or Ottawa and I knew about it, I would post it as well. I did not post it because it was about Renfrew... I posted it because it bothered me and wasn't sitting right with me.
Being a mother of a 7 year who has similiar problems to mike I understand why Diane called 911. When a child or person with mental incapacities looses control, they can and do become violent. I see it every other day. I can deal with it now but who is to say when my 7 year old becomes 24 I will be able to do the same. No one I MEAN NO one can say they will always be able to handle their children. To say that Diane called 911 because she was afraid you can't do that unless you asked her yourself. Maybe she was trying to diffuse the situation more peacefully. Maybe she didn't want him to get in more trouble by leaving the house. Maybe she couldn't handle the situation but she hasn't said anything to back any of those statements up. She made a call to try and help her son period. He ended up dead. Unless you live with people and deal with people with mental incapacities don't judge. Or give the holy than thou impression. At any point and any given time you can be dealt a hand you MIGHT NOT be capable of coping with. I didn't know mike personally but I did know some of the family, and I do know my daughter. She could be in that same postion. So unless your God or a have psychic abilities don't tell me you will always be able to handle them or never have to call 911 to deal with them. Believe me you can't.
Dealing with people with problems is like living every moment on the edge. I know. Unfortunately in my mind the police don't and that isn't going to change unless we say something. They are too quick sometimes and this was one of those times. Hurry, fast actions, multiple people, the alcohol, all of that bundled up caused something to happen. My daughter is the same way over stimulating her causes her to loose her control. Take a step back give her some room and she settles down. Maybe if that had of happened here things would have worked out differently. I understand the what if's won't bring him back but maybe just maybe if we work hard enough to stop it from happening again his death won't be in vain.
I just also wanted to add that there are times that people need support. I can't condone what the police officer did and won't in my mind be justified. I also won't sit back and let others be put down the likes of Norm for being proactive. He has experience with kids and problems too. Unless you know these kids don't mouth about what you know and what you think you know. Try experiencing it everyday.
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