Sammy Yatim: Another Unlearned Lesson in The Life Saving Value of De-escalation Techniques
On July 27, 2013, 18-year-old Sammy Yatim was a passenger on the 505 Toronto streetcar. According to other streetcar passengers as reported in the media, Sammy’s expression and actions drew a mixture of concern and fear. Passengers left the streetcar. Sammy Yatim remained, alone, with a knife in his hand.
A witness captures on video, the moments before Sammy Yatim’s death. Even from the distance that the video is shot, it is clear that Sammy Yatim is in crisis. As a Toronto police officer aims his handgun he yells, “Drop the knife right now. You heard me say it. If you take one step in this direction, I’ll f***ing do it. No doubt about it.” Sammy slowly backs up and repeats a mantra of four words, in a cadence that if it did not sound so baleful, it could be the lyrics to a song, “You’re a f***ing pig…You’re a f***ing pig.”
Does Sammy understand what the officer is saying?
Is Sammy in a state of mind where he can absorb fully what is being asked of him?
Does the officer understand this? Does the officer believe that Sammy has the capacity to understand the command, is capable of following this order and has the capacity to comply?
Does the officer consider other options before drawing his gun? Has the officer considered de-escalation? Do any of the other officers attempt to assist in a way that could de-escalate the situation as the shooting officer aims.
Many police officers have arrived. But, are they assisting or are they simply disengaged, mesmerized and chaotic?
It seems as if the shooting officer is on his own with one very frightened officer also aiming who is at his side.
One police officer moves casually to the side of the streetcar, talking into his shoulder communication device. Other officers arrive and casually enter the scene and stand behind the shooting officer. Other officers seem to mill about, directionless. A few officers move back and forth erratically, but it is not clear what their goals or intentions are. Some officers seem energetic but disoriented. Passersby, seem undaunted and walk by. Do police direct or ensure the safety of the civilian onlookers?
Before passengers exited the streetcar, according to one passenger, Sammy moved down the aisle of the streetcar with jaw and fists clenched, eyes wide. The knife was in an upright position. When Sammy neared, the passenger did not feel threatened, he reported to media because Sammy was moving slowly and seemed to be looking past him.
Following commands from the Toronto police officer, Sammy has backed up from the front TTC streetcar doors. He is noted in the first side window, with his arm at a 90 degree angle. A figure darts past on the opposite side of the TTC streetcar. Sammy notices, but not with the expectation of imminent danger. He seems to move in a dream-like manner as though the knife he is holding and moving slowly through the space in front of him has an ethereal or mystical quality. He turns to follow the movement outside the streetcar to his right with a floating quality, not the startle response and darting action of someone in a heightened state of arousal due to danger. His slightly delayed response is longer than would be expected from someone who has 22 police officers watching and waiting for him to decide not to comply. His delayed response is longer than one would expect in someone who is alert, capable and in a coherent state of mind. Does Sammy have the capacity to make appropriate choices?
Sammy makes the inappropriate choice as determined by Toronto Police Service’s protocols, training and guidelines for ‘use of force’ in situations where an offender has a weapon. Sammy drops his arm and deliberately moves one small step forward.
Nine shots, pop, pop, pop…then 6 more slow and deliberate…pop…pop…pop…pop…pop…pop.
Sammy immediately drops out of sight after the first shot. Moments later Sammy lays twitching. Is he still clutching the knife? “Drop the knife. Drop the knife,” the Toronto police officer commands. They move forward together in a pack, bodies taut, nervous. Someone arrives quickly and moves in front of the pack of officers and enters the TTC streetcar deliberately, confidently.
Media reports state that Sammy was stunned with a Taser after being shot. Did Sammy drop the knife after the first Taser deployment? Did Sammy ever drop the knife? Did someone pluck the knife from his hand as he lay dying on a cold TTC streetcar floor? After the first shots, was Sammy in a conscious state of mind to let go of the knife? Was Sammy conscious?
Had Sammy already dropped the knife as he dropped his arm just before taking that first deliberate step?
Eventually, CPR is applied. Thirty minutes later Sammy is transferred by ambulance to hospital. Sammy dies.
As Sammy’s mom, Sahar Bahadi weeps for the loss of her son and requests for no retributive action against the TPS, the community asks, how can this happen?
How can police training advocate for the use of repeated lethal force in a situation where a young man could have been easily contained to maintain the safety of police and civilians alike?
After closing the TTC doors to contain Sammy, if de-escalation had been the first or even the intervening choice by any other officer, Sammy might be alive and we would have all learned the value of effective de-escalation techniques.
Ontario’s Ombudsman, Andre Marin has stated that he is watching the outcome of this SIU investigation and may intervene if proper measures to make sure that another Sammy Yatim tragedy does not occur. Andre Marin has the authority and power to direct changes in Toronto Police Service training.
On July 29th, a march for justice for Sammy Yatim brought hundreds of Torontonians to the streets from a variety of cultural backgrounds. A second march is scheduled for August 13th, the date of the next Toronto Police Services Board meeting.
In support of justice for Sammy Yatim and to support the Yatim family as they grieve for the loss of a son, brother, friend, join the march on August 13th and help bring about effective change to policing services for those in crisis.
Peoples choice movement 