Cops not happy with Mayor

Mayor Valerie Plante is facing opposition from the union representing Montreal police officers after she said that she is open to the idea of creating a memorial for a young man shot dead by police in 2008. She was responding to a question by a citizen who asked the mayor during a council meeting for a memorial honouring Fredy Villanueva and called him a “symbol of resistance.” His death had triggered riots in the northern part of the city shortly after the shooting. Mayor Plante Plante replied that she was “quite willing” to examine the project, and added that errors had been made in the past, including ones that led to Villanueva’s death.Later while interacting with residents Maor  Plante added that the memorial would be an occasion to “listen, to take action … and to build bridges.”

Mayor’s statements irked the cops. The Montreal police brotherhood released a statement highlighting  that no officer had been blamed for the shooting death. Brotherhood president Yves Francoeur invited the mayor to read the coroner’s report and said the issue should be treated with “prudence and circumspection.” “Let’s note in passing that there is practically no public trace in Montreal of the 71 officers who died on the job over the years,” the statement said.

Villanueva’s death occurred on Aug. 9, 2008, as police tried to question the teen’s older brother, Dany. Officers Jean-Loup Lapointe and Stephanie Pilotte were trying to put an end to the illegal gambling game and arrest Dany Villanueva when things degenerated. In the ensuing scuffle, Fredy Villanueva was shot and killed by two bullets fired by Lapointe, while two other people were injured by other bullets.

Investigation on for ‘suspicious deaths’ of 2 seniors

Vancouver police is investigating after the bodies for two seniors were found in a Vancouver residence. The bodies of a 77-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man were found inside their home near Granville Street and West 5th Avenue. They have not yet been publicly identified. Few details have been released, but police said the deaths are considered “suspicious.” The BC Coroners Service is also investigating.