Documents reveal RCMP's PR 'crisis' after Taser death

Internal documents released by the RCMP reveal the "public relations crisis" the Mounties faced following the death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver airport.

The documents, released by the force Wednesday, highlight negative reaction from media and members of the public following a report by former RCMP complaints commissioner Paul Kennedy last December.

In that report, Kennedy said the actions of the four officers involved in Dziekanski's death were "inappropriate" and their subsequent explanations not credible.

Following Kennedy's report, RCMP Insp. Tim Shields authored an internal document that said the force's lack of response and criticism of the complaints commissioner did not sit well with the public.

Shields said that response only worsened the public relations crisis the RCMP has faced since the death of the Polish immigrant.

A public inquiry report released last week prompted the B.C. government to reconsider charges against the four officers.

• 

  Paul Kennedy, head of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, listens to a reporter's question after releasing his report into the RCMP in-custody death of Robert Dziekanski, during a news conference in Vancouver, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

• 

  RCMP Sgt Tim Sheilds speak to the media outside the RCMP offices in Dawson Creek, on Thursday July 16 2009. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dayna Manning)