Media complain of intimidation while filming officers

Chief Julian Fantino is reviewing the conduct of officers who attended a court appearance for four colleagues charged with manslaughter in the death of Otto Vass.

The probe follows complaints by media representatives that they were intimidated, sworn at and pushed by police trying to prevent them from taking pictures of the accused officers leaving old city hall after their release by a judge on Wednesday.

``I'm concerned about any of these issues, and I'm looking into it,`` Fantino told reporters following yesterday's police board meeting.

He refused to provide details about the review or its scope, including whether it will see if officers attending court were on duty.

Norm Gardner, chair of the police services board, said he has no firsthand knowledge about what happened at the courthouse but supports a review by Fantino.

``I think that if, in fact, there's any proof of (misconduct), the chief will ensure that these people understand that, if they expect the public to look to them as professionals and respect them, they have to act accordingly,'' Gardner said.

Tensions were running high in the police ranks when constables Robert LeMaitre, Phillip Duncan, Nam-Nhat Le and Filippo Bevilacqua appeared in court after they were charged with manslaughter by the province's special investigations unit.

Vass, 55, died following an Aug. 9 confrontation with four 14 Division officers outside a 7-Eleven store at College St. and Lansdowne Ave.

Dozens of officers, many in uniform, descended on the courthouse Wednesday to show their support.

Some media members complained that when the four accused officers left the courthouse in a van, police officers blocked their cameras. Some said they were sworn at and pushed to keep them away from the van.

Yesterday, several protesters showed up at the police services board meeting and held placards during a budget presentation to the board.

One read: ``Chief Fantino why are your cops intimidating the media and politicians.'' Another said: ``Support victims not criminals. Justice for Otto Vass!''

Outside the board meeting, one protester said they will keep coming to monthly board meetings until they get some answers from the force and the civilians that oversee it.

``We have questions for the police service and we're not getting answers, members of the public are not getting answers,'' Anna Willats said.

``People are increasingly intimidated by the police.''

Willats said she was particularly upset by what happened to the media during Wednesday's court appearance.

``When police officers are charged with incredibly serious crimes, fellow officers are holding the media back from getting pictures,'' she said.

``When someone from a poor community, or the black community, is accused of a crime, cops invite the media in to point their cameras two inches from that person's face.''

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