EDMONTON - A leaked federal report into the ambush-murder of four Alberta Mounties has confirmed the worst -- the officers died where they stood after being shot multiple times by a man who posed a threat that was not only unique, it was off the charts.

"It is unprecedented for someone who is fleeing from police to later return to the location where they are being sought with the intent to murder officers. This is believed to have been the first known occurrence," said the report by a health and safety officer with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

The four were killed by James Roszko, a man with a lengthy criminal record who was known to harbour a hatred of police.

"Roszko used an assault rifle to fire multiple .308 rounds at the RCMP victims, striking each victim a multiple number of times. All four RCMP members in the Quonset hut were killed instantly."

Constables Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon and Leo Johnston died in the attack.

Elements of the confidential report have been leaking out for weeks to Edmonton radio station 630 CHED. RCMP officials met publicly with reporters last week to detail the recommendations in the report.

The report itself points to a number of factors that contributed to the tragedy at Roszko's farm, located near Mayerthorpe northwest of Edmonton, on March 3, 2005.

But it still doesn't answer the key question: how did Roszko, last seen driving away from his farm the afternoon prior, manage to get back into the hut during the night despite it being under police guard?

Mounties had sealed the hut while they investigated reports Roszko was running an automobile chop-shop and marijuana grow-operation inside.

But somehow, during the night, Roszko returned.

"He was very familiar with the natural terrain and structures in the area," said the report. "It is not known how many police resources may have been required to prevent such a covert approach."

The next morning, events moved with lightning speed and deadly accuracy.

When the four officers walked into the hut around 10 a.m., Roszko, said the report, was hiding in the corner behind a 1,000-gallon plastic container.

Along the way he had acquired firearms, a bedsheet, heavy gloves, heavy socks to cover his boots, a pillow case, binoculars, a water bottle and bear spray.

"Once (the officers) had passed his location, it is believed that he opened fire, ambushing the unsuspecting members."

Only Johnston managed to return fire.

While it is not mentioned in the report, police sources said they believed Roszko used the sheet to camouflage himself against the snow while he snuck back to the hut.

Outside, two auto theft detectives preparing to enter the hut heard shots and yelling, then encountered Roszko coming out of the hut. He had the semi-automatic across his chest, another rifle slung over his shoulder and a pistol in his belt.

He fired two shots that narrowly missed one detective. One bullet struck a side mirror of a police cruiser and smashed the window. The officer returned fire and Roszko staggered back into the hut. Inside, he killed himself.

The report has made a number of recommendations, including providing police with night-vision goggles and body armour that can withstand rifle blasts.

RCMP Staff-Sgt. Bob Meredith, who helped write the report, acknowledged there is a need for better armour, but said it wouldn't have helped in Mayerthorpe.

"It wouldn't have mattered if those guys were wearing ballistic ceramic vests," said Meredith in an interview.

Peter Schiemann's father, Don Schiemann, said Friday that tougher laws are what's really needed to protect officers.

He said the fact that the report calls for better armour is an acknowledgement that police are facing greater dangers.

"Read between the lines and ask yourselves why. It's because there are more and more dangerous criminals on the street," Schiemann said.

The report said the officers were trained and well-directed to assess the threat they thought they were facing.

"While Roszko was well known to police, his behavior was not consistent with someone who would be considered a deadly threat to the officers," said the report.

However, in light of the tragedy, Mounties are now reviewing their threat-assessment procedures.

They are also changing staffing resources in detachments. The report suggests staffing may have a played a part in the tragedy, in that:

  • Even before the murder, Mayerthorpe had to call in help from the nearby Whitecourt detachment to investigate the Roszko case.
  • Two of the officers had been working overly long shifts the morning of the murder.
  • Schiemann wasn't even supposed to be on the scene at all; he was in plainclothes without body armour or a gun but was diverted to the scene to drop off Myrol when another member was called away.

A criminal investigation into the deaths is still ongoing.