CTV News Montreal

Updated: Fri Nov. 27 2009 6:30:13 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

Five years ago Sharon Rozen-Aspler's life changed for the worse.

She was a passenger in a car that was hit by an SQ cruiser, in a crash that was originally ruled an accident by Montreal police.

On Nov. 27, 2004 Rozen-Aspler was in a Honda at the intersection of Ferrier and Decarie going through a green light.

She and the driver heard sirens, but did not see the police car until it rammed them.

The impact was brutal.

"I had 12 fractures around my ribs," said Rozen-Aspler. "I fractured my pelvis on both sides, I fractured my sacrum and my right clavicle."

"About the third day basically I developed the acute respiratory distress syndrome."

Rozen-Aspler had to relearn some of the most basic tasks.

"I needed to learn how to sit , which was very painful at the beginning," said Rozen-Aspler. "Then I had to learn how to stand, I had to learn how to walk."

But while Rozen-Aspler was still in hospital, long before she even attempted physical therapy, Montreal police investigated the crash and closed the case, ruling it an accident.

Case ruled an accident

SQ officer Stephane Sasseville said he never saw the car he hit because his view was obstructed by signs.

Instead of accepting that decision, Rozen-Aspler challenged it, by filing a complaint with the Police Ethics Commission.

"They never asked the speed the officer was going," said Rozen-Aspler. "They never even covered the extent of the damages to the car."

Montreal police also failed to take pictures of the scene.

Ruling in victim's favour

Four years later, the Ethics Commission has ruled in Rozen-Aspler's favour, saying the investigation was "inadequate and incomplete," that Montreal police investigator Martin Couture failed to reconstruct the scene despite the serious injuries, and that the SQ officer did not drive with "prudence and judgement."

"I feel that they have to be held responsible," said Rozen-Aspler. "This was an opportunity to make sure they understood what they had done wrong."

The Police Ethics Commission wants SQ officer Sasseville to get a 35-day suspension without pay.

His lawyer is asking for 10 to 15 days.

The Commission would like to see Couture to be suspended for ten days without pay.

Couture's lawyer is requesting something other than a suspension, such as a reprimand.

Please Add Comments

T raven
Montreal Police are going a little too far. Now it is high time that they should have a shoulder cam that is on for the time of their shifts and if the cam is turned off their word should not be taken into account since it would be cover up. Now too many Police officers are lying to protect each other and this practice should stop. They should be liable for their misconduct and harassment and racial remarks that they do. Then it would be possible to charge them when they do a criminal act against society. How many of you think that this is a necessity to protect our self from police brutality?

Simon
It does not mean that because you are a Police Officer you are above the Law!.

Both are cases of PURE NEGLIGENCE.
Sasseville was negligent.
Couture did not adequately investigate.

I accept police vehicles have the right of way. That does not mean they can neglect Public Safety.

When they move in and out of Lanes. When they speed at traffic lights.
They must do so with:
DUE DILIGENCE.

Both should be FIRED !!!

MARIO
I'm very sorry the lady was seriously injured in this accident, but here again I find that we as society must support our police officers..

maybe better training, driving courses etc. is needed.

I find that especially here in Quebec we are quick to jump on police officers trying to blame them for everything..

and what about another police force investigating who should we use the cities blue collar workers??

I say this because several years ago I was a victim of a home invasion, I picked up the phone dialed 9-1-1, that was my only lifeline.
The police raced to my home and were there within seconds, which caused the criminal to run away as he saw the cops..He was caught a couple of blocks away and my family was safe and uninjured..

after speaking with the cop who got to my home first I realized where he was when he got the call in his patrol car..wow

He sped to my home passing red lights and stop signs for sure..putting society safety at a certain risk, but came and saved my families life.

If he have driven slower, he may have found 4 dead bodies at my home..

Thank God this police officer did what his conscience told him and did not listen to all the critisim society has concerning police conduct and procedure..

Training is the answer..

I support my local cops, and give them thumbs up every time I see a cop on the beat, try it makes every one feel great..p.s. remember to use the correct finger..

Mario

AlexDms
I applaud Sharon Rozen-Aspler’s action, I don’t know where things went wrong along the way but it seems that the Police have gone off track with who they think they are.

“To Serve and Protect” is their motto, so why is it, for whatever reason, that they themselves think they are above the law. Need I remind that the Police are a public service, and thus, paid by taxes payers.

I only remember getting into a small argument with a Police officer once who thought he was above everyone else.

“To Serve and Protect” sigh, I don’t really think so now a days, at least not all the time.

Sam
What a suprise police get away with another one. So they didnt investigate the Freddy Villenueva death properly and now this, so now all the people on police's side what do they have to say. As usual nothing will ever happen to officer who did this but what's new. When will the government finally realize that the police is the problem and that we need to police, but not by other police officers. But with a independent group not linked to the police.