Windsor's police chief supports a call by the family of a shooting victim downtown for an inquest.
The province's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, cleared two officers of any wrongdoing following the shooting death of 33-year-old Matthew Mahoney in a Dufferin Ave alley in March 2018.
The Mahoney family would like an inquest to be called to try and prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
"I certainly don't hesitate to support that," says Police Chief Al Frederick. "Whatever we can learn, however we can learn it, in regards to our response in the community, that's a good thing. I don't know if an inquest would be called, but if there is, that would be fantastic."
Frederick the actions of the officers were justified because their lives were in danger.
Mahoney was armed with a knife and slashed an officer when the shooting occurred.
Frederick says the most important thing is the grieving family.
"With this case, it is important that we recognize a young man lost his life, and our thoughts are with the family in regards to that," he says.
He says the officers are trained to deal with mental health issues, but this situation unfolded quickly.
"These two officers arrived at a scene and in a split second, and if you read the report, by all of the accounts and there were many, that they had seconds between themselves and serious bodily harm or death." Mahoney was shot multiple times. He had been suffering from schizophrenia for years before the shooting.
Michael and Matthew Mahoney (right) (Photo courtesy of Michael Mahoney)
His brother Michael Mahoney says his brother needed help and never received it from Canada's health care system.
Chief Al Frederick says both officers will suffer trauma because of the stress of this incident for the rest of their lives.
--With files from AM800's Rob Hindi