OPP President and CEO John Cerafuolo says five officers have been murdered in four months
Ontario Provincial Police are calling for changes to the justice system following the recent shooting death of an officer in Hagersville.
OPP President and CEO John Cerafuolo says tighter bail release conditions for violent offenders will help provide increased protection for officers.
"When officer safety is an issue, it's also a public safety issue. And your communities are at risk as well. So we really need to take a deep look at this and enhance it."
He's also not mincing words considering five officers have been killed in four months, including Hagersville.
The CEO says this impacts police forces overall, considering how all the officers each died while on the job. "They all have separate circumstances, with some similarities. But, the biggest thing is that we've had police officers murdered. It's not like it's in the heat of the moment, or anything like that, it's officers unprovoked, and they're being murdered."
Cerafoulo says lawmakers need to make it more difficult for those charged with a violent crime to be released on bail.
He adds there should be stricter monitoring and increased compliance checks for those who do get get out on bail.
This comes after Constable Greg Pierzchala was shot to death in Hagersville on December 27th.
He was responding to a vehicle in a ditch.
Investigators say one of the suspects, 25 year old Randall McKenzie, was previously released on bail after being charged in the assault of a police officer.
Cerafuolo also says increased funding for Crime Stoppers is needed, to provide an avenue for residents to report anyone caught violating bail conditions.
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