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Kevin Tokarchuk
- City's deputy
police chief retiring
- Put on paid
leave after probe into gang revenge killing
-
- By Bruce Owen, Winnipeg
Free Press, Jan. 10, 2004
-
-
- A senior city police officer
caught up in the ongoing probe into what police knew before the
killing of Kevin Tokarchuk announced his retirement yesterday.
-
- Deputy Chief Jim Thompson
will leave the Winnipeg Police Service Feb. 7 after almost 31
years on the job.
- A police source said Thompson
is leaving to go on an extended winter holiday in Florida. Thompson
had originally planned to retire in April.
-
- He was unavailable for comment
yesterday.
-
- Thompson was placed on paid
administrative leave last June 27 by Police Chief Jack Ewatski
as a result of a widening internal probe into police actions
prior to the killing of Tokarchuk. Seven other officers were
also placed on paid leave.
-
- Tokarchuk, 24, was shot to
death in his garage May 12. Police suspect it was an anniversary
payback for the May 12, 2002 killing of Zig Zag Crew gang member
Trevor Savoie. Tokarchuk's brother, Daniel, has been charged
with killing Savoie.
-
- Ewatski said his decision
to place the men on administrative leave was not punitive, but
a way to ensure the internal investigation was transparent. Thompson
and the other officers returned to work last month, some in different
duties.
- The internal probe began May
26 when it was reported a tipster had warned police in advance
that Tokarchuk had been targeted in a gang revenge plot.
It's also alleged the tipster's
information was passed up the chain of command, but that Tokarchuk
was not warned.
The internal probe is still
continuing and a determination has not been made on whether any
police procedures were breached. The most severe penalty is dismissal
from the force if an officer is found to have violated police
policy.
A confidential report by an
Alberta assistant Crown prosecutor has already recommended no
criminal charges be pursued against the officers. Tokarchuk's
mother, Diane Tokarchuk, has hired local lawyer Barry Gorlick
and is considering a lawsuit against the police service.
A government spokesperson has
said the province will review the Tokarchuk file once police
are finished.
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca
Police probe
nears end Death-threat warnings investigated
By CARY CASTAGNA, POLICE
REPORTER December 12, 2003
Four of eight Winnipeg cops
involved in an internal investigation into the events leading
up to the Kevin Tokarchuk murder are headed back to work. Chief
Jack Ewatski said in a statement issued yesterday that the officers
placed on paid administrative leave in May and June, will return
to active duty Monday, as the seven-month investigation into
allegations that police failed to warn Tokarchuk about a death
threat "is nearing completion."
"Some members will be
returned to their previous assignments, while others will be
temporarily re-assigned," Ewatski stated.
Sources told The Sun the four
officers are Deputy Chief Jim Thompson -- the chief's right-hand
man -- an inspector and two constables. The inspector, who had
been overseeing the crime division when the allegations first
surfaced in May, will be transferred to the communications centre,
sources said.
The three remaining officers
on administrative leave -- all sergeants, according to sources
-- are expected to be back at work in the near future. An eighth
officer was placed on administrative leave but has since retired.
"A decision regarding
internal disciplinary action will be made once the investigation
is fully completed," Ewatski stated.
The officer who was placed
on administrative leave but has since retired told The Sun the
officers never should have been removed from their duties in
the first place.
"What was said (yesterday)
hasn't answered anything or addressed much," added former
Sgt. Jeff Bellingham.
TRANSPARENCY
Winnipeg Police Association
president Loren Schinkel said he's happy for the four officers
who are going back to work but he is perplexed that three others
will remain on leave.
Ewatski has maintained the
moves were made for the sake of transparency during the internal
probe.
"I think the chief made
this very clear to begin with that this was not imposed to penalize
anyone or to infer any guilt with regard to this investigation,"
said Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Shelly Glover.
Tokarchuk, 24, was fatally
shot in the head in the garage of his family's home May 12 in
an apparent gang-related retaliation for the fatal shooting of
a Hells Angels associate exactly one year earlier -- a murder
for which Tokarchuk's older brother, Daniel, is awaiting trial.
Tokarchuk's mother, Diane Tokarchuk,
was informed of the latest developments. She couldn't be reached
yesterday for comment.
Deputy police
chief gets heat for Tokarchuk case
CBC, June 27, 2003
WINNIPEG -There was a startling announcement
Friday afternoon from Winnipeg's police chief. An eighth officer
is being temporarily sidelined over allegations police failed
to warn a murder victim he was about to be killed. What's so
startling is the fact the officer is the city's number two cop.
The decision to put Deputy
Chief Jim Thompson on leave came after Chief Jack Ewatski got
new information about the Kevin Tokarchuk murder case.
Mayor Glen Murray says he supports
the chief's decision, but he's worried about the number of officers
on leave.
"We sometimes have more
police officers investigating police officers than we have officers
investigating criminals. We have to be mindful of that, and we
don't want to create a culture where that becomes pervasive.
"At the same time, there
is the need for public accountability," Murray allows.
The mayor says the public shouldn't
jump to conclusions. He says being put on leave does not determine
a police officer's guilt or innocence. It's simply a procedure
to ensure a fair investigation.
Kevin Tokarchuk was killed
in his family's garage. Police say it was a gang retribution
killing. It happened exactly one year after another man with
gang connections was killed. Tokarchuk's brother is charged with
that murder, and is still awaiting trial.
Police are in the middle of
an internal review of the case. A report isn't expected for several
weeks and it probably won't be made public.
There have still been no arrests
in the killing of Kevin Tokarchuk.
For Immediate Release
Winnipeg Police Service
Media Release
May 21st, 2003
Statement from Jack Ewatski,
Chief of Police
The
Winnipeg Police Service takes very seriously its responsibility
to serve and protect the citizens of Winnipeg.
Yesterday afternoon, information
related to the Kevin Tokarchuk murder case was brought to my
attention. I have ordered an internal review, to determine when
the information came to the Service, who was aware of the information
and what actions were taken.
This is a matter of great concern
to me and our entire organization. I want to assure the Tokarchuk
family and all citizens that this matter will be investigated
fully.
The Mayor and Executive Policy
Committee have been briefed by Winnipeg Police and concur with
the Chief's decision. On conclusion of the internal review the
Winnipeg Police Service will enter into discussions with the
province to determine if further investigation or review is required.
The Winnipeg Police Service
confirms that Crown Attorneys were not aware of the threat against
Kevin Tokarchuk.
There are several ongoing investigations
related to this murder case and for this reason we cannot comment
on anything specifically related to this case at this time
For
Immediate Release
Winnipeg Police
Service Media Release
June 27th,
2003 Public Notice
Statement from
Jack Ewatski, Chief of Police
Kevin Tokarchuk was murdered
on May 12, 2003 while working in the garage at his family home.
In the weeks following that incident, information came to my
attention that alleged some members of the Winnipeg Police Service
might have had prior knowledge about a threat to Mr.Tokarchuk's
life.
On May 21, 2003, after receiving
this information, I announced an internal review into the allegations,
to determine if a full investigation was warranted. On May 26,
based on findings of the review, I ordered a full internal investigation
into the matter, and placed five WPS members on paid administrative
leave. On June 3, based on additional information gained in the
ongoing investigation, a further two officers were placed on
administrative leave. This non-punitive action has been taken
to preserve the integrity of the internal investigation and to
ensure the murder investigation and any future court proceedings
are not compromised.
Based on information I received
late yesterday afternoon, I have placed an eighth member of the
WPS on paid administrative leave, effective today. This member
is the Deputy Chief who oversaw the Branch of the Service handling
criminal investigations.
I have briefed Mayor Glen Murray,
Councillor Jenny Gerbasi and Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Bob Pruden, and they concur with my decision. In addition, I
have informed both the Winnipeg Police Association, and the Winnipeg
Police Senior Officers' Association. I have also ensured that
Mrs. Tokarchuk is aware of this development in the ongoing investigation.
On conclusion of the internal
investigation, the Winnipeg Police Service will forward the completed
report to an outside law enforcement agency for review. Prior
to that we will enter into discussions with the Justice Department
before selecting that agency.
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Truth can never be
told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd. William Blake, The Proverbs of Hell
