Toronto police board says renowned gunsmith killed in raid was 'author of his own misfortune'
CBC
The Toronto Police Services Board says the renowned gunsmith who died in a police raid just over a year ago "was the author of his own misfortune" in a recently filed statement of defence.
The statement, filed on Sept. 2, is in response to a $23 million lawsuit filed by Rodger Kotanko's family, which alleges an "unlawful" raid led to his "wrongful death."
An officer shot the 70-year-old while executing a search warrant on Nov. 3, 2021 at his gunsmithing workshop in Ontario's Norfolk County.
The defence denies any wrongdoing on the part of the Toronto Police Services Board, Chief James Ramer, Insp. Norman Proctor and the five officers involved — Det. Const. Richard Haines, Det. Sgt. Robert DiDanieli, Det. Const. Alex Pandolfi, Det. Const. Jeffrey Winter and Det. Const. Graham Knill.
It's the first time all of the officers involved have been named publicly.
Toronto Police Service (TPS) told CBC Hamilton all of the officers named in the statement of defence have been with the service for at least 17 years.
Its statement comes months after an investigation by Ontario's police watchdog sided with TPS, saying the officers acted in self-defence.
None of the claims have been tested in court.
Kotanko owned D.A.R.K. International Trading Co. Inc., which imports guns and gun parts, and R.K. Custom Guns, which offers gunsmithing and gun deactivation.
He operated out of his gunsmithing workshop on Port Ryerse Road, right next to his home, and was licensed. People who knew him say he was renowned for his work.
Search warrant documents previously obtained by CBC News show police raided Kotanko's property to investigate why two guns with obliterated serial numbers registered to Kotanko were found at a crime scene in Toronto and another in North Bay, Ont.
The statement of defence says Kotanko and his employees didn't contact the Canadian Firearms Program or Chief Firearms Officer to transfer the two guns.
They accuse him of not keeping track of his guns, improperly storing them, and illegally selling the guns.
In the search warrant documents, they also alleged Kotanko illegally removed the serial numbers off the two guns himself.
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