By Kevin Connor ,Toronto Sun
Kachkar, who killed Toronto Police Sgt. Ryan Russell with a stolen snowplow in 2011, was found not criminally responsible because he was in a psychotic state at the time the 35-year-old married father of a young son died.
Kachkar drove the snowplow through downtown streets early on Jan. 12, 2011, smashing into cars, before hitting Russell on Avenue Rd.
The Ontario Review Board is sending Kachkar to the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby.
“I am extremely upset and shocked over the decision of the Ontario Review Board to allow the person in charge of Richard Kachkar at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, in his or her absolute discretion, to permit Mr. Kachkar the right to enter the community of Whitby escorted by staff,” Christine Russell, the officer’s widow, said in a statement.
She demanded that the government appeal the decision.
“Personally, I felt that Richard Kachkar should have been sent to a maximum secure facility like Oak Ridges, and if, and only if, his treatment was successful, would consideration be given to transferring him to a medium secure unit like Ontario Shores.”
On Monday, the ORB released Kachkar’s disposition which permits him to be escorted to locations in Whitby by a member of the hospital for medical, dental, legal or compansionate purposes.
“Neither Mr. Kachkar nor his counsel asked that he be allowed off the hospital grounds and into the community. There was no discussion or any consideration of such a disposition whatsoever. This is completely unacceptable,” Russell said.
“The only evidence before the board was that Richard Kachkar represented a serious and significant threat to public safety, so much so that he was required to be put on anti-psychotic drugs to control him and to remain on the premises of Ontario Shores.”
Kachkar can also have access to the hospital grounds if accompanied by staff.
Officials at the mental-health facility must notify police if Kachkar is being allowed into the community and state the conditions why it is being allowed.
Kachkar has to submit to random urine or breath samples and must abstain from the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol.
He is not allowed to possess firearms, ammunition or any offensive weapon.
The ORB will review Kachkar’s case every year until he is deemed not to be a threat to the public.
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