The widow of an Alberta RCMP officer shot and killed on duty hopes politicians take seriously any recommendations from a fatality inquiry into his death.<\/p>\n
“My hopes are that anything that is recommended by the judge will be followed through with,” says Shelly MacInnis-Wynn.<\/p>\n
Const. David Wynn, 42, was slain in a casino in St. Albert, north of Edmonton, while investigating a stolen truck in 2015.<\/p>\n
Eyewitnesses described Wynn and his partner, auxiliary constable Derek Bond, chasing a man. One of the officers tried to grab the suspect, who pulled a gun and shot both officers in the ensuing struggle.<\/p>\n
Wynn died in hospital three days later from a head wound. Bond was shot in the arm and torso but survived.<\/p>\n
Shawn Rehn, the suspected car thief, was found 10 hours later in a nearby acreage home, dead from an apparent suicide.<\/p>\n
It was soon discovered that Rehn was a career criminal out on bail while facing 15 charges, including escaping lawful custody, possession of a prohibited firearm and failing to show up to a previous bail hearing.<\/p>\n
Senior RCMP officers questioned at the time why Rehn was out on the street. Alberta’s justice minister called for a review of how the case was handled.<\/p>\n
Alberta has since stopped using police officers to stand in for Crown prosecutors during bail hearings. The use of auxiliary constables has also been restricted.<\/p>\n
Shelly MacInnis-Wynn, who plans to attend the three-day fatality inquiry set to begin Wednesday, points out that although the hearings aren’t called to assess blame, they are meant to recommend how such tragedies can be avoided.<\/p>\n
“These inquiries are done because of safety issues or to better the organization. And I think it’s important that if a judge is making those recommendations they should really follow through with them,” she said.<\/p>\n
MacInnis-Wynn attempted to get a law passed to require prosecutors to attend bail hearings and reveal the applicant’s criminal history. While the first objective has been achieved, she said the second is still unfulfilled.<\/p>\n
“There still is that loophole,” she said. “It’s not mandatory for officers or prosecutors to bring all that information forward.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s something they do have to address.”<\/p>\n
MacInnis-Wynn said it’s been a long road for her and her family. She is raising three boys, now 17, 19 and 20.<\/p>\n
She credits help from a group called Camp FACES, which assists first-responder families suffering from sudden trauma, with making a big difference.<\/p>\n
“They are absolutely amazing and have been a huge support for myself and my family.”<\/p>\n
MacInnis-Wynn said it was at Camp FACES that the whole family learned a vital lesson.<\/p>\n
“Seeing the families who have children who are much, much younger who have lost their fathers or their mothers, I’m thankful (my sons) got to spend a lot of time and have a lot of memories of their dad,” she said.<\/p>\n
“As I see all of these families, I truly am thankful that they did have the time they did with him.”<\/p>\n