Date: Wed Aug 22 11:25:41 2001
Subject: PA/MRU#01-142 CHIEF RESPONDS TO PUBLIC FATALITY INQUIRY REPORT
From: Don Stewart

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             CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
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CALGARY POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE

STATEMENT BY CHIEF JACK BEATON

Last week I received Judge F.L. Maloney's report to the
Minister of Justice and the Attorney General concerning the
public fatality inquiry into the tragic deaths of Amy
Kauffeldt, Gareth Hackett and Constable Brian Hanson on June
19, 1999.

While Judge Maloney has determined that he can conceive of no
reasonable recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the
future, the Calgary Police Service is absolutely committed to
ensuring that all of its alcohol related awareness training,
policies, standards and practices are aimed at preventing
future similar tragedies.

There are no words possible to describe the pain and despair
this tragic traffic collision has caused three families and
countless friends, relatives and colleagues of those
involved. I know that the public's respect and confidence in
the Calgary Police Service were badly shaken as a result of
this devastating incident. The men and women who work for the
Service were also deeply saddened.

As a 2,000-member strong organization, all of our employees,
both sworn and civilian, work together toward the common goal
of optimizing public safety in our city. All of our members
are expected to adhere to the core values of the Service,
conducting themselves at all times with honesty, integrity,
ethics, respect, fairness and compassion, courage and
commitment.

Along the way we have, on occasion, both privately and
publicly, failed to live up to these values. There can be no
excuses. As police officers we are held to a higher standard.
We are held accountable by the citizens we serve, and we are
held accountable by our individual and collective commitment
to the values which stand at the core of our organization.

Within the Service, we have, as indicated by Judge Maloney,
been working hard to ensure our continued vigilance toward
the early detection of problems associated with alcohol use,
and we recognize that the Service's policies on alcohol and
drug dependency need to identify risk at an early stage and
provide support to help employees abstain from addictive
substances.

Beyond the Calgary Police Service, the Canadian Association
of Chiefs of Police (CACP) has been working for several years
to lead change that will improve safety on our roads. In
April of this year, the Honourable David Collenette, Minister
of Transport, joined with the Association's Traffic Committee
chairman to unveil Road Safety Vision 2010. One year ago at
the CACP's national conference, the membership resolved to
maintain traffic safety at the forefront of policing in this
country.

The CACP, and the Calgary Police Service, recognize that
public safety and community wellness continue to be
threatened by the drinking driver. Each year in Canada, about
1,100 road users are killed in crashes involving alcohol.
Impaired driving remains the leading criminal cause of death
in this country. The Calgary Police Service is committed to
raising awareness about the consequences of impaired driving
and significantly reducing injuries and deaths from motor
vehicle collisions.

RELEASED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS/MEDIA RELATIONS UNIT FOR CHIEF
JACK BEATON

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Public Email Contact: 

    ccelbb@gov.calgary.ab.ca

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