The funeral of Sgt. Russell

The death of Sgt. Ryan Russell has blanketed the media in recent weeks. First the incident, then the investigation and finally the funeral. It is a tragedy that has touched many.

But something seemed out of place. Toronto Police Chief Blair has been dealing with a public relations nightmare. Since the fateful weekend of the G20 Summit stories of police brutality and unlawful detention have continued to come to light.

Some were simply residents who lived nearby. Others were targeted by their clothing. A black t-shirt was enough to get one school teacher arrested.

In all, 1,150 protestors and bystanders were detained – the largest mass arrest in Canadian history – most of whom were swept up blocks away from the destruction seen on the news.

After being held up to 30 hours without basic necessities, about 70 per cent were released without charge once the summit was over. Little evidence was offered against most of the remaining individuals. The search for the “ringleaders” continues.

Chief Blair offered no apology, even making a few false statements to the press. (Did he say that no rubber bullets had been used?) So it’s no surprise that Toronto Police Services have had an image problem along with a few lawsuits.

Then suddenly an officer is killed and Chief Blair is back before the cameras. Perhaps I’ve become too jaded, but every time Blair hit the air I felt I was being manipulated. 

Every TV station, website, and newspaper received pictures of Russell with his wife and infant son. 
Granted, it made for great TV.  So the networks televised the funeral, complete with a police processional that delayed the service by more than an hour. 

There, Staff Supt. McGuire spoke eloquently of Russell’s character.  However, he’d met the man only once – once! – during an ill-advised stand-off in which 50 officers and a tactical unit took down an unarmed, mentally ill man in a parked car. 

Officers commented on the love and support that flooded the streets. Ironic – isn’t it? – that just months before the streets had been similarly closed off for the summit.

It’s been argued that if the widow hadn’t wanted such pomp and circumstance, it would have been a much smaller affair. Perhaps. 

However, she certainly didn’t arrange for officers from across Canada to be flown in for the funeral.  And she could hardly be in any condition to veto the plans of the police services who saw Russell as a shining icon for the blue brotherhood.

I feel for the Russell family and their terrible loss.  I respect the police who do an essentially thankless job each day. But something went terribly wrong back in June.

You could say that recent events brought some perspective and healing to Toronto. 

However, expert misdirection and manipulation at the hand of PR magicians isn’t going to do the job. 
True healing for the city will require much more than a little TV magic.


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