New Westminister Police misled public on killing of 16 year old

The New Westminister police have over the past 3 years led the public to believe that the fatal shooting of a 16 year old by one of their police officers involved a stolen vehicle. It now has been revealed that this was not the case. Not only did the New Westminister police mislead the public for 3 years, but the officer involved in the shooting has a history of violence.

Officer Todd Sweet the officer who shot and killed the 16 year old boy, a passenger in the vehicle, has a long history of violence and complaints against him. Just 2 months ago, he pleaded guilty to kicking a prisoner in the head. The prisoner Todd Sweet kicked in the head was handcuffed, unarmed and not a threat to him. Sweet is under suit for excessive force In 3 other incidents.

In the case of this shooting, a vehicle full of 16 year old kids was pulled over at a routine traffic stop. After the vehicle had been given the all clear, the police, for an unknown reason, initiated a high speed pursuit. Todd Sweet was not initially involved, but became one of the trailing cars in the pursuit. Somehow Sweet managed to corner the vehicle full of teenagers, and after what witnesses describe as a single crashing noise (not 3 as Sweet claimed) Sweet fired into the vehicle, killing a 16 year old passenger.

Why does the New Westminister continue to employ a violent and dangerous person such as Todd Sweet in any capacity? Why would anyone want to give this person a gun? How can a man who has broken the law be expected to uphold it, let alone enforce it?

The residents of British Columbia deserve better than police investigating themselves while misleading the public and officers who continue to serve after pleading guilty to assaulting a prisoner.

The BC Marijuana Party would implement an independent group of police-auditors with the sole job of prosecuting police officers for crimes they committed. These individuals would be trained outside of the police forces, would not be former officers and would report directly to the legislature. Any officer found guilty of committing a crime on duty would be suspended, and any violent crime would be cause for immediate dismissal.

Allowing a violent and dangerous individual like Todd Sweet to continue to work as a police officer undermines the public trust and is a slap in the face to legitimate police officers everywhere.

New Westminster police misled public

Sweet pleads guilty to assault

Sweet testimony contradicts witness

Sweet investigated in 4 other incidents