Toronto police officer who shot renowned gunsmith won't talk to SIU
CBC
The Toronto police officer who shot gunsmith Rodger Kotanko nearly a month ago won't talk to Ontario's police watchdog.
Special Investigations Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kristy Denette told CBC Hamilton on Tuesday morning, the subject officer also "declined to release his notes, as is his legal right."
Kotanko's family and their lawyer say they're not surprised but are disappointed.
"Jessie, his wife, she just cries all the time," Jeff Kotanko, Rodger's brother, said in an afternoon phone call.
"She gave up her life in China to come here and spend her life with him and … now he's just gone and she's alone. Her whole life has been destroyed."
Michael Smitiuch, the family's lawyer, said while he had a chance to speak with the lead investigator Monday evening, there are still numerous unanswered questions about Rodger's death on Nov. 3 at his Norfolk County property.
"The family, obviously, is anxious to find out more information and the longer this goes, the more difficult it is for the family when they don't have the answers they're looking for," he said.
Toronto police said officers arrived at Rodger's home on Port Ryerse Road around noon. Neighbours say some wore plain clothes and some wore tactical gear looking for guns. Family say they also had an ambulance with them.
It's unclear what information they had because the family says it has never received a copy of the search warrant.
Rodger's family also says Toronto police didn't coordinate with local police, only alerting them moments before executing the warrant — a move family and friends believe would have prevented Rodger's death.
They say officers pointed assault rifles at Jessie and got her on the ground before approaching the gunsmithing workshop.
They add Rodger was inside with an apparent customer working on a gun when a police officer standing outside the workshop shot him.
The family lawyer has said Rodger had no criminal past and was a certified gunsmith who reportedly fixed guns for local police.
Denette, from the SIU, said all but one person, excluding the officer who shot Rodger, needs to be interviewed. The investigation has included seven witness officers and two civilian witnesses.
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