Enhanced Tactical Coverage, More Trained Negotiators, and New Investigation Policies Introduced

The Halton Police Board has approved the service’s response to recommendations from a coroner’s inquest into the death of Ahmadu Ahmed.

Ahmed, 22, was fatally shot after exchanging gunfire with Halton Police officers during a standoff at a Burlington gas station in September 2018. Two officers were also shot and sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident began when Ahmed fled the scene of a two-vehicle collision on the QEW and barricaded himself inside a gas station restroom. A Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report later determined that Ahmed fired a semi-automatic handgun at officers, and investigators ruled in June 2019 that police were justified in using lethal force to protect themselves.

Despite this, the coroner’s inquest jury issued recommendations aimed at improving police response to similar situations in the future.

One recommendation called for Halton Police to assess the feasibility of having members of the Emergency Services Unit, Crisis Negotiation Team, and Tactical Response Unit on duty 24/7.

In response, the police board report noted that the tactical team has expanded since 2018, now operating in three deployed sections to cover high-demand periods, with on-call officers available at other times. Additionally, Halton Police now has 24 crisis negotiators trained at the Canadian Police College, providing around-the-clock coverage.

The report also urged the board to conduct annual reviews of police resources to ensure effective and adequate policing.

Another key recommendation suggested that Halton Police develop a policy for outsourcing investigations to an external police service in cases where the force itself was involved in the incident. The jury also advised that the police board be granted access to investigative findings and have the opportunity to question those leading the investigation.

In response, the Halton Police Board has implemented a new policy outlining mandatory conditions for ensuring investigation independence. This includes clear guidelines on when to outsource investigations, defining the information that must be shared with the board, and requiring the lead investigator to attend board meetings when the police chief presents their report.

The board officially approved the new policy at its most recent meeting.