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Blamed and Broken: The Mounties and the Death of Robert Dziekanski
A few fleeting seconds, captured on video, led to a frustrating search for justice tainted by ego, bias, and a desire for vengeance.
Images of Robert Dziekanski convulsing after being shocked by a Mountie’s Taser went viral in 2007. International outrage and domestic shame followed the release of that painful video. It had taken just twenty-six seconds for four Mounties to surround and stun the Polish would-be immigrant at Vancouver International Airport.
A decade later, after millions of dollars spent on an inquiry, and bungled prosecutions laden with bias and interference, the tragic impact of those fleeting seconds on the people involved ― Dziekanski's mother and the four Mounties ― is at last revealed.
Images of Robert Dziekanski convulsing after being shocked by a Mountie’s Taser went viral in 2007. International outrage and domestic shame followed the release of that painful video. It had taken just twenty-six seconds for four Mounties to surround and stun the Polish would-be immigrant at Vancouver International Airport.
A decade later, after millions of dollars spent on an inquiry, and bungled prosecutions laden with bias and interference, the tragic impact of those fleeting seconds on the people involved ― Dziekanski's mother and the four Mounties ― is at last revealed.
- GenresNonfiction
360 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 3, 2019
This is a well-researched book that takes a look into a situation a while back in Canada where, after a series of mishaps a man got lost in an airport while trying to immigrate into Canada, it went on an excessively long time and no one understood his language and he had a meltdown. The Mounties were called to the scene when the man lost control, and during the confrontation, sadly, he suddenly died in police custody. A witness happened to catch one angle of the incident on video. It happened at the glass-walled Immigration section at an airport after he’d gotten lost and agitated. He only spoke Polish and no one could understand him. A Taser was involved. All four RCMP’s involved, three of whom were still fairly new in their careers, felt they’d done their job to the best of their ability and training that night, and that the witnesses and video would verify the necessity of their actions that night.
But once the man’s mother found out the next day that her only son was deceased, and had made the trip, after all, she was out of her mind with grief, screaming. She’d depleted her small savings so that they could spend what time she had left together, getting him set up in a new life in Canada. Hopefully a happy one. Her husband was very ill in a nursing home and she’d been so looking forward to her son coming, he was all she had and now she had nothing! And a funeral to find the money to pay for too. It was too much. When the video went out without context, things went very badly against the officers. From the angle of the video, you couldn’t see what the officers saw. This will affect lives for years and there will be more lives lost over it before it’s done, which is the saddest part.
It didn’t help that a couple of workers at the airport didn’t try to locate him when his mother showed up after a 4 hour trip to pick him up, they just brushed her off and told her he wasn’t there, that his flight had landed hours ago and he must not have made the trip, instead of actually making an effort to find out, and worse, they told her to just go home and call Poland. She was not allowed beyond the security checkpoint to search for him herself of course. I believe from what they figured out later, mother and son only missed each other by a few minutes in reality. It was that close.
This book is pretty intense, heartbreaking, and well written. I feel like these cops got a crappy deal. I’m sure there will be differing opinions upon reading the book and I look forward to seeing what they are. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it there. A very good read. My second book dealing with Mounties too recently, I like that. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Curt Petrovich, and the publisher for my fair review.
Also on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
But once the man’s mother found out the next day that her only son was deceased, and had made the trip, after all, she was out of her mind with grief, screaming. She’d depleted her small savings so that they could spend what time she had left together, getting him set up in a new life in Canada. Hopefully a happy one. Her husband was very ill in a nursing home and she’d been so looking forward to her son coming, he was all she had and now she had nothing! And a funeral to find the money to pay for too. It was too much. When the video went out without context, things went very badly against the officers. From the angle of the video, you couldn’t see what the officers saw. This will affect lives for years and there will be more lives lost over it before it’s done, which is the saddest part.
It didn’t help that a couple of workers at the airport didn’t try to locate him when his mother showed up after a 4 hour trip to pick him up, they just brushed her off and told her he wasn’t there, that his flight had landed hours ago and he must not have made the trip, instead of actually making an effort to find out, and worse, they told her to just go home and call Poland. She was not allowed beyond the security checkpoint to search for him herself of course. I believe from what they figured out later, mother and son only missed each other by a few minutes in reality. It was that close.
This book is pretty intense, heartbreaking, and well written. I feel like these cops got a crappy deal. I’m sure there will be differing opinions upon reading the book and I look forward to seeing what they are. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it there. A very good read. My second book dealing with Mounties too recently, I like that. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Curt Petrovich, and the publisher for my fair review.
Also on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
November 6, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of this book which presents a disturbing and provocative account of over more than 10 years through a tangled web of our legal system: inquiries by police officials, trials, appeals, Supreme Court, psychiatric reports, etc. This unbiased and thorough reporting makes one wonder whether justice was served
Most Canadians were aware and upset by the death of an extremely agitated and confused man after being confronted by four rookie RCMP officers at the Vancouver airport in 2007. Robert Dziekanski, a Polish man who spoke no English, died after being lasered by one of the policeman during a struggle. A bystander captured the 26 second encounter on his cell phone camera, a film which would be considered primitive by todays’ standards. Before his death a series of mistakes and inaction by airport officials and Border Services employees led to the botched attempt of the RCMP officers trying to subdue the frantic, distressed man.
His mother had comes long distance to meet and greet her son who had all the correct documents for the visit. She spent hours going from desk to desk trying to find him. She was told he wasn’t in the airport and perhaps never got on the flight to Canada. No attempt was made to search for him and she was told to go home.
Blame soon fell on the Mounties involved and they were accused of collusion and collaborating on their participation in the tragic event immediately after the death. The accusation of perjury was to haunt them through all the inquiries and trials afterwards. The Mounties were made out in the press as liars and engaged in a coverup of their actions and I was unaware that there was much more to the story. There was certainly a coverup, but seemingly an the part of RCMP officials, their lawyers, government, and psychiatrists they hired. We see how readily they were to accept a witness who claimed the four Mounties had met together at her home before their inquiries. Any of her statements were easily disproven, showing all were elsewhere at the time. Her ex-husband who claimed this never happened felt that attempts to threaten and intimidate him were made when he refused to confirm her stories. Nevertheless she was used as a witness against them for lies saying they never met to discuss testimony.
The RCMP officers lost or were demoted, their careers and reputation in shatters; two went to prison, and most suffered documented cases of PTSD for years afterwards. Years of bungled and biased prosecutions led to broken marriages and health issues. The man chosen to be the first spokesperson for the RCMP officials made public statements being unaware of the video and known facts. This led to his eventual suicide. His grieving widow was prevented by the RCMP to honour him in the funeral service she wanted.
My only problem with the book was the numerous names involved, especially at the beginning. When it came to more personal involvement in the trials and lives of the accused the narrative was easier to follow. I would have liked to have seen a list included of the various lawyers, police officials, judges, government officials along with their parts in the inquiries, trials and appeals. Because of the scope of this book which covered almost 11 years this would be most helpful. Very well researched investigative reporting.
Most Canadians were aware and upset by the death of an extremely agitated and confused man after being confronted by four rookie RCMP officers at the Vancouver airport in 2007. Robert Dziekanski, a Polish man who spoke no English, died after being lasered by one of the policeman during a struggle. A bystander captured the 26 second encounter on his cell phone camera, a film which would be considered primitive by todays’ standards. Before his death a series of mistakes and inaction by airport officials and Border Services employees led to the botched attempt of the RCMP officers trying to subdue the frantic, distressed man.
His mother had comes long distance to meet and greet her son who had all the correct documents for the visit. She spent hours going from desk to desk trying to find him. She was told he wasn’t in the airport and perhaps never got on the flight to Canada. No attempt was made to search for him and she was told to go home.
Blame soon fell on the Mounties involved and they were accused of collusion and collaborating on their participation in the tragic event immediately after the death. The accusation of perjury was to haunt them through all the inquiries and trials afterwards. The Mounties were made out in the press as liars and engaged in a coverup of their actions and I was unaware that there was much more to the story. There was certainly a coverup, but seemingly an the part of RCMP officials, their lawyers, government, and psychiatrists they hired. We see how readily they were to accept a witness who claimed the four Mounties had met together at her home before their inquiries. Any of her statements were easily disproven, showing all were elsewhere at the time. Her ex-husband who claimed this never happened felt that attempts to threaten and intimidate him were made when he refused to confirm her stories. Nevertheless she was used as a witness against them for lies saying they never met to discuss testimony.
The RCMP officers lost or were demoted, their careers and reputation in shatters; two went to prison, and most suffered documented cases of PTSD for years afterwards. Years of bungled and biased prosecutions led to broken marriages and health issues. The man chosen to be the first spokesperson for the RCMP officials made public statements being unaware of the video and known facts. This led to his eventual suicide. His grieving widow was prevented by the RCMP to honour him in the funeral service she wanted.
My only problem with the book was the numerous names involved, especially at the beginning. When it came to more personal involvement in the trials and lives of the accused the narrative was easier to follow. I would have liked to have seen a list included of the various lawyers, police officials, judges, government officials along with their parts in the inquiries, trials and appeals. Because of the scope of this book which covered almost 11 years this would be most helpful. Very well researched investigative reporting.
Read
January 28, 2019 “Blamed and Broken” is a cautionary tale for anyone who would embrace any sort of nationalistic fervour, whether for a particular home locale, a large organization, or the country itself. The saying, “two heads are better than one” is true; two people working with a common goal can most often achieve more than one alone. If one is fortunate, the principle can extend to three, four, five people and more. When one gets however, to the level of an organization the size of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, one would be lucky if one could get everyone involved to clap in unison. Humans are not good at maintaining focus on a shared agenda, and when the agenda is as complex, as massive, as time consuming and as abstract as enforcing the laws of a country of 34 million people, the task is simply impossible.
The very same thing may be said about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. While working for Mothercorp may have given Curt Petrovich his first contact with the story of the death of Robert Dziekanski, I would suggest that Curt has succeeded in this important journalistic achievement in spite of the CBC rather than because of it.
I was one of a horde of regional CBC reporters and producers across the country producing local programs who, relatively frequently, would be tasked with finding a “local angle” on a national story. When the Braidwood enquiry waded into “dangerous TASER” territory, I followed my assignment to track down some Winnipegger with a TASER death or injury story. In my small way I contributed to the mass of minutiae that buried the truth about the four police officers whose careers were sacrificed for alternative agenda.
I became a journalist because it was the shortest route to a job after an English degree, and while I believe fervently in the principles of a free press and a public broadcaster, my experience suggests that there are more reporters in the field like me than like Curt.
If reporters were neurosurgeons, Curt is one on an extremely short list of those I would feel comfortable with cracking open my skull. That’s not because of any particular incompetence or mediocrity among the rest; it’s merely that, in my experience, people were the most important elements to Curt in working on news stories – Not deadlines, not programming, not scoops, but people. I had the dubious privilege of working at the desk right beside Curt for a couple of years in the Winnipeg CBC radio newsroom. “Privelege” because it was indeed wonderful to learn from a reporter who not only worked hard at the craft but also seemed to be born to it in ways that can not be taught. “Dubious” because it meant I frequently heard and saw the frustration and anguish Curt had to deal with as his stories and the real people he had come to know and who often had experienced horrible things and were willing to talk about them into a microphone because of Curt, were regularly pushed and pulled and twisted to serve the varying agenda of the maniacal hydra that was the national newsroom’s editorial staff. In eight years in three different CBC regional newsrooms, I saw numerous national radio news reporters made to twist in anguish as their hard work was treated cavalierly by an editor in Toronto who was new to the story.
The news stories that swirled around what actually happened to Robert Dziekanski and the four police officers involved in his death obscured more than they revealed. In “Blamed and Broken” you will find a clear narrative, a caring treatment of every person directly involved, appropriate bluntness about those who came on scene late armed and swinging agendas, and a very satisfying demonstration of how thorough journalism ought to be.
An astute reader will also realize how paltry most of our consumable journalism has become and how much more cautious we must be before beating our chests at the sight of the maple leaf or the red serge, or at the sound of the national anthem. The fervency of pride we like to show publicly about those symbols and institutions often becomes the barrier that keeps us from examining them closely enough to make them work.
The very same thing may be said about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. While working for Mothercorp may have given Curt Petrovich his first contact with the story of the death of Robert Dziekanski, I would suggest that Curt has succeeded in this important journalistic achievement in spite of the CBC rather than because of it.
I was one of a horde of regional CBC reporters and producers across the country producing local programs who, relatively frequently, would be tasked with finding a “local angle” on a national story. When the Braidwood enquiry waded into “dangerous TASER” territory, I followed my assignment to track down some Winnipegger with a TASER death or injury story. In my small way I contributed to the mass of minutiae that buried the truth about the four police officers whose careers were sacrificed for alternative agenda.
I became a journalist because it was the shortest route to a job after an English degree, and while I believe fervently in the principles of a free press and a public broadcaster, my experience suggests that there are more reporters in the field like me than like Curt.
If reporters were neurosurgeons, Curt is one on an extremely short list of those I would feel comfortable with cracking open my skull. That’s not because of any particular incompetence or mediocrity among the rest; it’s merely that, in my experience, people were the most important elements to Curt in working on news stories – Not deadlines, not programming, not scoops, but people. I had the dubious privilege of working at the desk right beside Curt for a couple of years in the Winnipeg CBC radio newsroom. “Privelege” because it was indeed wonderful to learn from a reporter who not only worked hard at the craft but also seemed to be born to it in ways that can not be taught. “Dubious” because it meant I frequently heard and saw the frustration and anguish Curt had to deal with as his stories and the real people he had come to know and who often had experienced horrible things and were willing to talk about them into a microphone because of Curt, were regularly pushed and pulled and twisted to serve the varying agenda of the maniacal hydra that was the national newsroom’s editorial staff. In eight years in three different CBC regional newsrooms, I saw numerous national radio news reporters made to twist in anguish as their hard work was treated cavalierly by an editor in Toronto who was new to the story.
The news stories that swirled around what actually happened to Robert Dziekanski and the four police officers involved in his death obscured more than they revealed. In “Blamed and Broken” you will find a clear narrative, a caring treatment of every person directly involved, appropriate bluntness about those who came on scene late armed and swinging agendas, and a very satisfying demonstration of how thorough journalism ought to be.
An astute reader will also realize how paltry most of our consumable journalism has become and how much more cautious we must be before beating our chests at the sight of the maple leaf or the red serge, or at the sound of the national anthem. The fervency of pride we like to show publicly about those symbols and institutions often becomes the barrier that keeps us from examining them closely enough to make them work.
April 20, 2019
If you want to know the entire story of the YVR incident then this is the book to read. It’s clear the entire process was a miscarriage of “justice.” Four officers have suffered extensively since their fateful interaction with Robert Dziekanski. It was a complete tragedy for everyone. Another officer ends up committing suicide. Sadly the RCMP abandoned their frontline members to protect the image of the “Force.” Two police officers were unjustly convicted and the Supreme Court of Canada completely abdicated their responsibility to overturn 2 ridiculous verdicts of judges ignoring extensive and overwhelming evidence of total innocence. The Supreme Court of Canada allowed innocent men to be convicted of a crime and serve jail time. The Supreme Court of Canada brought the administration of justice into disrepute. To call this an injustice is a massive understatement. Grotesque. Read this book, it goes far beyond what the media and politicians would have you believe. It’s the truth. This book underscores how policing isn’t about right and wrong and it’s more about political optics. The Braidwood Inquiry was more like an inquisition and political circus than any attempt to make a legitimate attempt to understand what occurred.
July 14, 2019
This book is another incoherent attempt to whitewash bad police actions; actions which resulted in the death of a man trying to leave an airport. Throughout the book author Petrovich taints everyone except the four mounties involved as criminals, alcohol abusers, liars and as clever manipulators victimizing the poor mounties. He then alternately ascribes angelic grace to all four mounties, the senior mountie on the scene "hung back" to see how the rookies would do never questioning them and their motives at all. He then regurgitates the standard alt right dogma that the bosses inside and outside the police force should have had the backs of these officers rather than assessing what happened. A poor book, pass on it.
March 12, 2019
This book is essential reading for any of us who want to live in a society where we are innocent until proven guilty. It seems like such a simple concept ... until it's thrown out the window. I have travelled in countries where the authorities don't care if you're guilty or innocent. Once you've read this book you'll see we're on this dangerous path ourselves.
The author has made a very detailed and nuanced story riveting to read. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended!
The author has made a very detailed and nuanced story riveting to read. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended!
May 9, 2019
As a fellow journalist and also instructor of the craft this book is a testament to the power of in depth research and the uncompromising search for how and why decisions were made at the airport, in the RCMP, in lawyers offices and courtrooms, and in the minds of all affected . It adds so much context to the lives of all involved in the tragedy and the tragic fall out. Smartly written with much heart.
November 30, 2018
Forget about Nelson Eddy as Sergeant Bruce of the Mounties in the 1936 movie, “Rose-Marie.” Attractive as he was in his red serge jacket, and as exhilarating as his voice was in his rendition of “The Mounties,” (here come the Mounties to get the man they’re after … and we’ll get you soon) something’s hollow. After reading Curt Petrovich’s “Blamed and Broken,” those words echo and I am no longer a great fan of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I even found that the movie was filmed in Lake Tahoe, not the Canadian Rockies. Another sham.
Petrovich takes a long and tortuous route describing the misfortunes of four young Mounties who were dispatched in 2007 to check the circumstances at Vancouver International Airport where it was reported that a man was raving wildly while tossing furniture, trying to break windows, and terrifying nearby observers. In just 26 seconds the man was approached, surrounded, tasered, on the ground and handcuffed, and went into his death throes. It took 10 years and millions of dollars to get the case adjudicated (it might not be over yet) and resulted in the deaths of three men, and condemned four others to be disgraced and to live in shame and suspicion.
According to the author, and explained quite well, things are not always as they seem. Tragedies such as the airport incident most often only occupy our minds for a few minutes. But a combination of events including confusion during stressful confrontation, an overzealous photographer, a distraught mother with limited communications ability, troopers who didn’t understand their confusion was normal, higher-up officials scrambling to protect integrity, an overeager press, public outcry, interference from well-meaning but uninvolved individuals, and courts divided in opinion were all instrumental in the search for a decision as to how the guilt was to be disbursed.
RCMP training was lacking in many aspects and the death of Robert Dziekanski might have occurred because the officers had bad information about Taser usage and safety. Disagreement by mental health experts added extra stress to the involved Mounties’ mental condition. One top RCMP brass hat issued harsh criticism of his officers before all the facts were uncovered and refused to change his stance when new information was disclosed. Refusal by top government officials to promptly pay legal expenses added great pressure to the men and their families. A spokesman for the RCMP committed suicide during the procedures, unable to cope with the tension. And, in the end, two got sent to prison and two were exonerated, adding even more distaste to the entire affair.
So, as you can see, the author had a lot to explain in his accounting. He did a great job covering the disparate facts, although he might have found that fewer words could have shortened his efforts. I recommend this book although the RCMP has been dropped from my hero list. Eh?
January 29, 2019
Well done account of a specific incident involving the RCMP but it's really about more. What happened to Robert Dziekanski and then the aftermath could have happened anywhere and to any law enforcement agency. That is by no means a criticism of law enforcement but rather an acknowledgement that stress, training, and crisis do not always mix with the new ability of bystanders to video events. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this cautionary tale.
August 18, 2019
This was an amazing book! I watched the video first and automatically saw what the world saw and what the media portrayed. But upon reading this book my views have changed drastically. This book is about corruption in the Canadian legal system and those aligned with it; being the rcmp. This is about the lives affected in the decade long media frenzy around four rcmp members who chose to use the taser in a difficult situation that ended in the death of Robert Dziekanski.
July 5, 2019
I became interested in this book after seeing a documentary about the author, CBC reporter Curt Petrovich who has suffered from PTSD for years following his experiences in the field. The book is a bit of a slog at times, with all of the legal procedures explained in detail. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating account of our justice system and its shortcomings. This was a tragedy for everyone involved, and really made me think about how much the media influences our perception of the truth.
February 4, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.A must read type of book. It will have steam coming out of your ears. There must be a better way of detaining someone than the decision that was taken. Read this well written book and decide for yourself if their actions were justified. Happy reading! #BlamedAndBroken #NetGalley
February 20, 2019
Important read...
This book was recommended by some journalist friends. I remember the reporting of the incident at YVR that resulted in Robert Dziekanski’s death very well.
This book challenged my view of the opinions formed from media coverage and will continue to influence how I view media coverage, fake news, etc.
Great book.
This book was recommended by some journalist friends. I remember the reporting of the incident at YVR that resulted in Robert Dziekanski’s death very well.
This book challenged my view of the opinions formed from media coverage and will continue to influence how I view media coverage, fake news, etc.
Great book.
December 31, 2019
Very eye opening. I feel it gave an unbiased version of an even that had only ever been reported with bias. Well researched and written.
March 17, 2022
I read the book in two days, I wanted to challenge myself on the public narrative. I think it should be renamed Blameless and Broken. The author does a great job of documenting how the 4 Mounties were railroaded by the RCMP and the BC Prosecutors. He documents in great details their struggles but the book fails to hold the constables accountable for the outcome. The Mounties did not show up with the intent to kill Robert Dziekanski, they felt their actions were justified based on their training and that where the narrative fails. 26 seconds from the beginning to deployment of a Taser. Taser were deemed safer back then. They regret that their lives were turned upside down, they regret the alcoholic Robert Dziekanski's death, offer sympathies but take no accountability hiding behind their "Training". Curt Petrovich has researched many facts and states them but his choice of adjectives and adverbs betrays his bias. Lots of facts, plenty of dirt dished out. I wrote to the author and to his credit he responded and he brought up good points but defended the 4 Mounties. Nobody is a hero in this narrative.
April 25, 2020
Petrovich offers a comprehensive and touchingly intimate account of the Dziekanski death at the Vancouver airport. It offers sympathy for all those involved including Dziekanski, his mother, the officers who responded and their families. It offers glaring insights into the way that public interest, media, bureaucracy and politics all interact to foment polarized views, misunderstandings and missed opportunities for meaning making. All of this makes the entire situation even more tragic.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews