Thank you for the invitation to appear before this committee.

I echo a lot of what Chief Davis said, wholeheartedly. Chief Davis and I police together on the Six Nations territory. I grew up there. My whole career has been spent on Six Nations of the Grand River. I am Mohawk. I am of the wolf clan. I am very passionate about keeping my community safe. As Chief Davis and Mr. Caputo said, the system is broken.

I look at December 27, 2022, and the death of Greg Pierzchala. I didn't know that young man, but he policed with my junior officers. One of the officers working that day was my nephew. He had just started policing on the Six Nations of the Grand River territory. He worked his way up to become a police officer, from his teenage years. The son of our acting deputy chief was also working that day. It could have very easily been a Six Nations officer who lost his life that day in such tragic circumstances.

I'll go to the Gladue factors, as well. Don't get me wrong. Looking at the history of Gladue, it does work in certain circumstances. However, I'm going to quote here. For repeat violent offenders seeking bail, and in light of everything going on—speaking with Chief Davis about the latest individual released—Gladue factors are outweighing public safety. Going forward.... I hear that from my community and elected council members. They look at Gladue as the “get out of jail free” card.

I've said this to the media on a few occasions. In my opinion, race should not play a factor in the bail conditions of repeat violent offenders. I'll pose a question: If Randall McKenzie were not indigenous, would he have been released that day? I don't know. I cannot answer for the justices involved, but in my opinion and seeing his criminal record.... He was to reside on Six Nations of the Grand River territory. His surety wasn't the utmost choice I would have made. Again, those decisions were beyond my control. My officers responded to calls when he tampered with his ankle bracelet, then was gone into the wind. The response time was 25 minutes. By the time we got there, he was gone.

Jump ahead to October, when he was again wanted by the Hamilton Police Service for other serious offences involving a firearm and a domestic. We checked and knocked on the door again at his surety's place in Ohsweken, on the territory. His mother advised us that she had not seen him since he cut his bracelet off in July 2022.

Jump ahead to December 27, and we have the shooting of Constable Pierzchala. To me, that really hit home, based on what I told you earlier about who was involved. I was on the ground that evening, geared up in my uniform and with my firearm. My fellow officers helped the OPP effect the arrest of this individual. It is heartfelt for me. It is close to home. I hope something changes.

As I said, Chief Davis and I are friends. I know a lot of members of the OPP and Haldimand County detachment are having a very emotional time right now. To me, that is totally warranted, because this has to change. Something has to be fixed.

Thank you.

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