Facing criticism for telling residents faced with a home invasion not to engage with intruders, the Chief of York police took a softer stance Friday after comments made聽in the wake of back-to-back violent incidents in the region.聽
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday,聽Chief Jim MacSween told citizens they should “not to take matters into their own hands,” a directive that many people took “exception” to according to MacSween who said it had nothing to do with “politics, or with concern over force used against the perpetrators of home invasions.”
“It was suggested as a tactic in the hopes of preserving lives, should citizens be confronted with an armed intruder,” “When it comes to defending property, material items can be replaced 鈥 but lives cannot.”
The case at the centre of these comments is the death of Abdul Aleem Farooqi, a father who was killed in front of his family after an intruder broke into their Kleinburg, Ont. home early Sunday. Wasib Dheendsa, a family friend who spoke to reporters on behalf of the Farooqi family on Tuesday, said that聽 one of Farooqi’s daughters was held at gunpoint before 46-year-old was shot in front of his family.
Family spoke about a Vaughan man who was killed in front of his family early Sunday in a home
York police are still searching for the assailants.聽
MacSween said in his statement there isn’t one golden rule to follow when your home gets invaded but calling 9-11 and “avoiding engagement” has proved to be the best way to handle the situation.聽
“These situations are dynamic, chaotic, and difficult to assess in the moment. Ultimately, a citizen should do what they deem necessary to preserve their own safety, and the safety of their loved ones.,” MacSween said.
MacSween said he empathizes with the community who are feeling “pain and anger boiling to the surface” and understands why “people feel the need to fight back, and are dissatisfied with any direction to do.”
The statement walks back a more firm directive he gave Wednesday where he urged people only to intervene as a last resort.聽
鈥淲hile we don鈥檛 want homeowners to feel powerless, we urge you to call 9-1-1 and do everything you can to keep yourself and loved ones safe until police arrive and be the best witness possible. This could mean locking yourself in a room away from the perpetrators, hiding, fleeing the home, but don鈥檛 engage unless absolutely necessary.鈥
Discussions about policy were initially reignited when a Lindsay, Ont. apartment owner was charged for assaulting his invader in August.聽
In that press conference, MacSween evaded questions about Premier Ford’s calls for more lenient self-defence policies.聽
Kawartha Lakes police laid assault charges against a Lindsay resident Monday after an alleged
鈥淭he premier can make his own statement and his own mind up about that,鈥 MacSween told reporters. 鈥淲hat I would say is as a police service, we鈥檒l follow the laws as they鈥檙e written. If the laws change we鈥檒l change with the laws.鈥
MacSween also used his statement to rebuke claims that it took 13 minutes to respond to Sunday’s home invasion call.
“The fact is, our officers were en route within 40 seconds of receiving the call and arrived on scene within 4.5 minutes following the 9-1-1 call,” MacSween said.
“Our top priority is solving this heinous, disgusting crime and ensuring those responsible are held accountable. That鈥檚 what the Farooqi family, and all of York Region deserves.”
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