Moose Jaw Police Not Told About Charges And A Missing Small Gun

The RCMP’s former Assiniboia Detachment’s commanding officer Sgt Dennis Silliker said the RCMP left out some pertinent details when transferring Jeremy Sabourin.

The RCMP forgot to mention Sabourin had been charged with firearm charges plus there was a missing small gun.

Coroner’s Council Robin Ritter said “the police in Moose Jaw had none of that information (about firearm charges). They didn’t know he had firearms related charges because it wasn’t on the C-13 form.”

“I don’t know. Sorry,” Silliker responded.

“It doesn’t like there is anything on there,” he said after reviewing the documents.

Ritter said Moose Jaw Police Service knew nothing about the missing little gun.

“Moose Jaw Police don’t know you’re missing a small Derringer type 22 calibre gun. Correct?” Ritter asked.

“I can’t speak for what they knew but it’s not on the C 13,” Illisker responded.

“Nobody picked up the phone and called Moose Jaw and said hey, we’re missing a very small gun. Maybe want to have a look,” Ritter said.

“If I suspected at any point, that he was potentially concealing the firearm, I would take him and ensure that search was done,” Silliker said. “I didn’t have any suspicions.”

“I had no inkling he potentially had a firearm on him. In fact, the following morning when I found out what happened my first thought was he must’ve disarmed the police officer,” he said.

Ritter asked Silliker if having so many personnel with little experience was a problem. Silliker said it could be a blessing.

“We you have junior members that come directly out of training they don’t have any bad habits and they’re very keen. They’ve been trained in a very intensive program through Depot so often fro my experience junior members in many cases are more tactically sound than perhaps some of the older members,” Silliker said.

He said junior officers often do not take shortcuts than the older members might.

Ritter asked Silliker was aware of Sabourin concealing a hand gun on his person.

“Yeah I’m aware that somehow there was a firearm,” he said.

Silliker said he had personally observed the search and “Constable Tetrault conduct the search and having run through my mind many, many, many times I know there was (inaudible) with a firearms person. I just don’t know where that was at that time.”

“If you had known there was a firearm on a person we wouldn’t be here now would we?” Ritter asked.

Ritter asked about why Sabourin’s gun as missed.

“Given the fact, he did have this loaded, firearm on his person, and he was searched, and the search did not locate that firearm I’m wondering if you can help us understand why it was not located.?”

“Yeah that’s the question. I’ve asked myself the last few years,” Silliker replied.

“It appeared to me. It was a good search,” he said.

Wands need to be used with every prisoner.

“I think after that event and knowing the wand policy…(we) want to utilize that on every case, not just cases where we suspect (weapons).”

Ritter pointed out that changes made to the RCMP wand policy may have resulted in posters and other reminders to use metal detecting wand on prisoners, but that policy existed already at Jeremy Sabourin’s death.

“Were you aware of that?” Ritter asked.

“That every prisoner needed to be wanded? No,” Silliker responded. “Prior no (to Sabourin’s death) but I know it exists now.”

Silliker said he could not recall passing on the RCMP’s search policies to any of its members.

The RCMP seized 15 firearms belonging to Jeremy Sabourin of which five were handguns the RCMP Sergeant said.

“Did you find the little gun?” Ritter asked.

“No and I did ask a number of questions to (his father) Mr Sabourin at that time,” Silliker responded.

“My question was did he have it on him. My question was it something he would typically have on him? And the answer was no,” he said.

“The thought never crossed your mind. Maybe he’s carrying it on his person?” Ritter asked.

Silliker replied “no.”

All 13 witnesses have now been questioned and tomorrow at 9:30 AM the four women and two men jury will be charged to discuss and come up with recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.