By MARGARET SPEIRS © * excessive force.» Robinson, who-is: confined toa ‘wheelchair, after - With an ‘intoxicated person who. Was: refusing, to —_ leave in: July 2003. ros “to leave. the bar. ~ es _ “inédical condition," _— She: “Was: wamed:if. she did: not: wae volts ‘of electricity.” ss “AS. a: result ‘of = thé. iriciclent ao obstruction: « of” the. toe ‘disturbance: swearing and using, obscene language... Robinson’s 's story ‘of the incident, ae better in two days. consistent with Robinson's ‘medical condition; “That's the- whole: point. They’ ve used research she said:." 3 ihéoretical risk is what:they were.told,” she said. "-around HEV-and thei on. this understanding?” - oe ‘justify“tsing the taser, situations where. they 2 are at risk,” ‘she Said.” happened. herée.”: ; “Schmitz: ‘said: the disturbance: écétitred. about - which ‘was five minutes before closing. - “Tt sounded.‘ td:.me. in’ the ‘testimony of the REMP that: doing this?" =" ~~ : POLICE ‘should. continue. to. Use. -lasers but, their’ training and” usage’ néeds to. be more.closely monitored. That's. one. recommendation “7 from an “interim -report ‘teleased ° “ dast. Wednesday:.:in : the ’ ‘external - “investigation” into «: the... Possible “The: lethality of taser: use by: police... ae provincial. oo Be, Police. " Complaint. *Comimissionét “Dirk.” Rynevelt,”- “ordered” the .study..following’ ‘the _” death last June of 54-year-old Robert _ Bagnell,. who-died.aher being: shot: witha taser during. his arrest. at'a ~-Mancouver hotel, °°. A, further: review. will: look. a abita om Poe Es By MARGARET SPEIRS © oe ‘A LOCALMAN has been convicted of destruction’ ©” of fish on an ongoing hasis during the construction.. of, his. cabin: -. oe Gino.Carpino was found’ guiliy of ‘destoying oe fish by means-other than fishing. .- He.was sentenced to. pay'a' fine of $500, and: t complete 160 hours of community service under: the diréction “of,- and: ‘10. the: satisfaction of, the 2 Bedéral-Crown: ‘prosécutor Terry Wight tole ~ the-court the events happened between May. 21, . :2002.and Feb.14, 2003, 0n the Kitsimkalum River,” ~ a highly productive fi fish habitat of. economic and” ‘environmental value: : A ‘bridge 9 was needed, aid a a logeng operation, ‘was initiated'to pay fori; Carpino:was:co-opérative al. first arid. “did approa ~ plan to’build acabin but didn’ ttell fisheri¢s of his: ficeisto-tell: them of his’ A WOMAN zapped with a police taser.that lefts six : ~ wounds ‘on-her left forearm and back for several” + months has filed’a complaint alleging thé RCMP. a “officers. ‘who. used ‘the: instrument. on n her exerted Policé ‘used. a taser, a “tool. ‘that aischaiges: ‘paralyzing jolts of electricity, three times on Elsic --. “being ‘called to Hanky Pariky’s nightclub to-deal * ; “When - they arrived; police. said ‘Robinson’ threatened the of; ficers, was ‘combative and ref used" ~ They chose: to! use" othe. laser. ‘aller deciding ae 1 baton was - ‘inappropriate. and pepper spray would |< o-cause. Robinson to: excrete’ mucus from the: nose... and éyes, an ‘unwanted. result due ‘to her: infectious pf : “comply. with : ‘ police- requests, “she would be: hit. with, 30, 090, = charged with. assaulting’ ‘three: officers, willful: officers. wa d= causing a. “On June 7. this year, ‘Robiiison was : coiivieted.” “of. three counts.of assaulting: three peace Of ficers: ; engaged in: the execution. of their duty arid. ‘one. . count: of: causing: ‘a ‘disturbance: iby Screaming, : “Deb Schmilz,. executive director. at “Positive: . “Living: Northwest: ‘Society’ in: Smithers; assisted... -- Robinson with: filing the complaint’ and: ‘attaching Robinson said her-injuries 1 took nine months tc to, heal:even though: Police: indicated: they. ‘woilld be us “Schmitz: said. the extended | healing. time: was’ "on people who're healtliy but they'Ilbe using them {tasers} on ‘People who are. health compromised,” an “Mucus. isn’ "infectious when i it’ comes to HIV, a That was-their ratioriale for using alaser.on-her, A “ATE. like ‘to’ know what: the- general policy is. understandirig.: ‘Is it based. “on fact-and.is there-a Olicy and procedure based ; ‘She. said jin Robinson’s case,. the “idéa of ae “theoretical . risk; could be used. aulte. loosely to.. fT know: ‘the: RCMP: ‘gome'ae ‘Across: all kind of . :to-call and there’s a tot of “Guestions about: what: - 10 minutes’ before police’ showed up at’ lL ‘55 am, _Tasered woman lo ges” complaint against R . Advocate f fears police using device on: people whose health i is compromised. he ___.. The Terrace Standare, Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - AS ! _CORRESPONDENGE FOR FHE TERRACE STANDARD ELSIE ROBINSON: displays the burns left behind by’ ataser gun a few weeks after an. inci. - dent in which ROMP officers used the device on her F FILE PHOTO of If. something is. poing on,.’m- the first: person: : ct voivthing to escalate and it did,” ” shie added, 2 where he’ Was struck by Elsieand he coulda’ t give hen. they shoived-up and started to: - deal: with: cher’ [Robinson; they, were ‘concerned’: for their safety because - ‘patrons: in the: bar™ ‘Were - = ‘starting to. say “What, are you doing, Why are you. , “In a situation Tike. that its really easy: for’ hy" police.» waited | a month before - informing Bapnell? 8 family. that’ he - had beert shot ‘witha'taser, 9°" > One of. the » report's: overall: ‘findings was police training in taser: usc ‘was'inconsistent-within. B.C." - » "study ’ established. by the Justice: Institute, - a polite raining . facility, ‘and that ° oe every taser tse should be réporied.: “>” Other recommendations include. bili ngthe newest laser: model, which...” “has ‘a. lower ‘electrical. output, and: that police receive more ‘instruction, about “exciled’ delirium’, which. can . wt dic Wright tole Mr, Carpino, érealed more ‘of, these sirainding. “Zones thant were there previously," he said." - “This istiota one limesituation. I'san- ongoing: -problem; and will be. ihere: fort a flurhberof year: Wii ght said the question was. whether Carpino ; ‘profited fromthe timber removed: from the area: Approximately. $40,000 of tihnber: vas rerived from 2002 t0'2003, ‘Wright Said... Loe About half of thal vould: be profit: but the. cost = . of the. vee Was estimated to. be between $1 5 000. “He said ‘Carpino, owns an islarid hear ‘thre and: a i -“This'isawomariin a, wheelchair “time. with iball:” Schmitz 'said:: - She ‘Said the ‘police. officers: were ara ‘hey: aS B road taser r u se #ecommends: a training: “standard:”-be’ > .-Y Schmitz, who attended Robinson’s wial, said- * the: officers. -alléged | thal. Robinson Spat on them . “andawvas being combatiye,: Pete -“Tywithessed an RCMP officer giiestioned about that‘on the’stanid,’She wasn't. striking out, in that’ ‘sense, she:was not wanting. | !9 20: fo. jail and was very. agitated.’ ” ; vis : I havea hard : TASER gun use by police is. under investigation. FILE PHOTO [| were ‘going to be. bitten, which.meant “a: little: bit 7 _more risk for sure but theré were a lot of them: and : : nobody wanted to gel. in slosé, to restrain: her.i is os, ‘whiat I think.” oe *Schmiiz’ wasn’t, ‘present. Robinson’ $. ‘sentencing. Sut’ Robinson. told her 4oineone: hads «| “suggested ‘she should: apclogize to he ‘RCMP : officers involved: * “Schmitz: ‘said the’ ‘apology. suggestion « really ironic. because. the shole ‘situation. is. so’. |: questionable, Who ‘should: be apologizing fo) whom|]?” : ds‘apparent. : = The. interim” repart. that’ ‘police restraint! me destruction nets fine Wright: ‘told: the court. tha dung island - footing, the fish move around. : » When the awater level, diops, they can” swim. . ack ino the riverchannels; Irany fish are Caught “5 bee “stranding zones”, they’ can’t leave. and: “court last ‘month..- ‘ ould be ‘payable’ to the | court atid +4, 900 payable fat the: depariment Ht rie Kite 9, bo: nner often accu in cases where drug use “8 “of. Mrv Carpino that, led to his conviction,- -that i is: bringing heavy. equi pment onto the island..." be: ‘considered: as restraint positions +”. ‘May. pase a risk to those arrested. “ also : ‘found "The final Feport ‘is: due: for’ | thods should _ completion before year end. : a, He said only two minnows were found dead. - Judge Krantz. disagreed; saying. Tot more fish’ " _were rescued from the slranding zonés,!00°0- f.B. :. Carpino said: “I know I’ye already, been found a guilty. There, will always. be -a Jow. spot in the . ground, T'can fix: ital want It’ s mother nature; it’ -happens évery:year.” : “did not do-il for. Proll, “house,” hé added. ot S Carpino ‘argued | he. was paying: a morgage and taxes an-a place he’ can’ tdo anyihing with. T's broke: me. He (Wright). Wants’ a fir ne as a. ‘deterrent, Everyorié | in'town knows. ] ‘lost my wife A ~ forsix months, lost my jobat: Alcan: I'm on: EL: “how, I faye no:monty to pay" a: $5 000 fine, I’m. - cwilling-to work with fisheries -but:E can’t put-out: “money,” he said; adding he felt he had to. move,. Judge. Krantz agreed. the zones weré an act of- ture but'thatdoes not detract from the behaviour. Tid it tobiild a | ‘| - She acknowledged that Carpio had pesovally iuffered but aid he was.convicted and-mu : council 1s. smewhat misplaced. - “now changed his mind: . "companies. The Terrace Stahdard welcomes . ‘letters. ~ The Mail Bag | on dispatch decision out. a - of city council’ Ss control An open letter. to. Lawrence Stella: cote _ -T.write-in response to. your letfer of Sépt. 29. regarding 9 1 emergency dispatch service for.Terrace and:area,..--° - Although T agree: with you that the five jobs should .Temain in. Terrace andthe. entire process: is ‘taking far. | too Jong,’ must state that-your- wrath al. the Terrace sity. “Ih fact, this decision was made by th Regional District _ board. Nad : - Coundilior Stew Christensen and myself have ‘been ‘on ‘the O21. _ Stakeholders * ‘Stecring Committee working on this, project. : a ‘Weare but. two. of a large. conimittee representing the | area ‘from: Kitimat:to. |’ Stewart. the :Nass valley ‘to ~ the Hazeltons =a total of five. "municipalities, four'electoral districts and ' 15 First Nations Villages: ” nos a The,’ consultant ‘on - the: ° project Dick Wells, ofiginally’ a: ‘favoured the Terrace dispatch” "but ‘for variqus: reasons has. Marylin Davies ‘For “the. record,’ both’ councillor: ‘Chtistensen and spoke and voted against the motion ‘to usé ‘the Prince. George dispatch. The motion, however, carried, | : The recominendation to continue negoliz ations was then 7 Ratified by: the. Regional District: board of directors, Although! Know you are not happy with the decision, nit. “was not made by the Tetrace: city council Itis democracy in action. a . : Marylin Davies i ity eau nell “Fair volunteers try. hard - Dear Sir: ; ; “In" response. 16 Claudetie. ‘Sandécki’ i's” Séptember is, - 2004 column entitled Fall Fair Could be: Much. Mare. ‘The volunteers that. organized’ the .Fall'-Fair pitt: their: ns whole, heart. and: soul: ‘into. ensuring “that: it. would. bea __SUCKESS.: ‘The Fair. turned out t to ‘be a “coniplet : “when you. take into. consideration the: extremely : limited” ~ budget, that the association: has to work’ with: ‘Every yolunteeé.who-helped to put this: ‘production on ‘should be given the: highest commendation Since. At was | ho easy feat. ©. 7 Ms, Sandecki, “while oe agree wi ith you that: the. Fall , ” Bair could:be much-more, you miist.realize that this i is the a a - Skeena Valley Fall Fatr. and notthe. PNE. pea Irces $s available, weed on __ Erie Roy ~ salmon under DFO plan + Dear Sirs aes . ~The Department of Fishéries ‘and | Oceans i is seriously . cofisidering, privatizing salmon. They. will ‘be holding ‘consultations swith the ‘commercial fishing’ industry, about... “the privatization of Salmon but, so far, Fisheries has not -” os agreed, 10 consult with Communities. of the’public,: : Salmon, right now, is owned by the: people: ‘of Canada : ‘and managed by. the Canadian’ government. The plaivis to.” - “tut over the ownership of salmon to, n Individual fishermen oe or tocorporations. «* . ; The fish will be divided up. into: ‘amoints? ‘or ‘quotas’, » and each. fisherman or company who owns-a°commercial --salmoniicence will receive a: “quota | of salmon. They will: “own this ‘salnion for-perpetuity. This quota can‘ be sold” “to-anyone; including, foreign: ‘companies. (For. example, ce “when New: Zealand privatized their-fishery. into quotas, . * - Weyerhaeuser ended up ownirig 80% of the.fish.) ’Theplani is that. the quota owners will also. ‘manage’ OF, “pay for'a private company to:'manage” - ' private interests. ‘The. provincial sotemmeit is proposal; : also i in. stipport: of ‘this. : - North. coast coinnierciail ailinet fishermen ‘voted: 95 a per cent: against ‘quotas: ‘and the proposal: to: privatize’ “the salmon: fishery even though, they: ‘willbe ‘the initial ~ benef icidries.: These’, ‘indépendent’ fishermen: are opposed “to quotas. because they. know. that privatization will lead * tothe concentration of salmon ownership by.a few Major : “companies: | Other species of fish have already been’ turned over to. " private interests: Hatibut, for example, is owned by. quola ~holders, most whom: don’t fish; The majority. of. halibutis 7 “caught by fishermen ‘who have to Iease-a quota'from the “ owner. On avérage, the“ owner is paid. $3.50 per pound. by. “the fisherman who leases: the quata, The’ fisherman sells * + the-halibut he/she catches for'$4.00-10 $4.50-per pound... - This gives the fisherman earnings of 50:cents to $1. 00 per © ~ pound: out-of which the boat upkeep, ‘the bait, pear-and “crew Costs: haveto! be. paid before. the fisherman ‘makes any - : - ‘money, Roe herring is the same way; except worst ~ last ’ season the fishermen ended up.'in the hole’ ~ the herring...” ~ they. caught only paid for 65 per ¢ cent of the c cost of leasing _ the quota::.: . » Quotas. and the privatization of salto is: fot the: “way. “0 settleany problems with Ihe fish’or the fishery. ‘Tt transférs- ownership :of-salmon ‘fromthe people of ; = Canada | to individuals.or “Corporations. It transfers earnings “from. fishermen’ to quola, owners, wlio will: likely, be large “Privatization. does not make. for better. management, 7 “ik transfers: Management: of'a ‘public: ‘resqurce from: a government ‘responsibility to that of a private company: No . fewer fish swill be caught just: fewer people. employed. - "Joy. Thorkelson : Prince Rupert B.C. “About the Mail Bag. Our - 8G" SR2. : ‘newsroom @tereacbsuindd d.com. No atta iiehts please. - Wane, address and phone nunber requiredjor verifeation. oe ‘success; even: op . The. organizers put on: much, ‘more of 4. show. than: I: | the conimercial - * a salmon fishery.: ‘The. Canadian” government: wilt slowly Peek ‘back aut.of managing: the’ resource as it’ ig tumed over: tO Ls