HALIFAX - A federal RCMP watchdog says its investigation of the shooting death of an aboriginal man in Nova Scotia found "troubling details" in the force's failure to hold a disciplinary review of the officers involved.
The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP says the Mounties' brass took a confusing and unco-ordinated approach on whether to examine the conduct of its officers after John Simon's death on December 2nd, 2008, at his home in Wagmatcook.
In the end, no review was started within a 12-month time limit required under the law.
The commission is also calling for a public apology to Simon's family by the Mounties.
Simon was shot and killed in his home by Constable Jeremy Frenette.
An earlier investigation by Halifax police determined there was no criminal wrongdoing because the officer acted in self-defence.
The commission's report says Frenette's supervising sergeant should have done more to ensure that there was a plan in place before the team of three officers approached the home.
But the report also says that once Frenette entered Simon's residence, he was justified in shooting him because Simon had a gun that was aimed at the constable.
