WINNIPEG – A policing expert suggested on Friday that the Winnipeg police should consider factors like age and cultural background when dealing with high-risk situations.
Peter Rampat, a former officer from Toronto and an instructor at the Ontario Police College, shared his insights during an ongoing inquest into the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old First Nations girl.
Rampat pointed out that the Winnipeg Police Service’s use-of-force policy does not take into account modern de-escalation tactics, scenario-based training, or alternative options, as well as aspects like age, ethnicity, or someone’s ability to pose a threat.
Eishia Hudson was shot in April 2020 after police responded to reports of a robbery at a liquor store and pursued a stolen Jeep that she was driving.
The inquest revealed that the vehicle collided with a police cruiser and struck other cars during the chase before an officer fired two shots.
“This is both a tragic situation, and a complicated and challenging situation for anybody involved,” said Rampat.
“I try to bring balance to the conversation.. I think it starts with training. That’s where it starts. Good solid training, rooted in best practice and national standards.”
Const. Kyle Pradinuk previously testified that he shot at the driver of the Jeep because he believed fellow officers could have been harmed by the moving vehicle.
Rampat told court this week that Pradinuk’s actions were unreasonable and inconsistent with training policies. He noted that the harm inflicted on Eishia outweighed any potential harm he was trying to prevent.
Rampat emphasized that de-escalation techniques are essential for reducing instances of force being used.
“You can’t just look at a subject’s behaviour and say, ‘I can automatically go to a force option.’ You must consider: ‘What else can I do? Is that a good option? Is it viable right now? Or will it put me or someone else in jeopardy?'” he explained during the inquest.
The service should also broaden its training to include methods like tactical breathing and mindfulness to enhance decision-making skills, according to Rampat.
He added that incorporating real-life scenarios into their training would be beneficial as well.
Discussions around race and age have been significant throughout this inquest. The police initially described robbery suspects as Indigenous youths aged between 15 and 18.
Rampat stated that officers should have considered age and race when deciding whether or not to use force.
Younger individuals are “more prone to panic, to knee-jerk reactions. Their inhibitions are much lower. So you must be aware of that,” he mentioned.
The inquiry is exploring not only if the officer’s use of force was appropriate but also whether systemic racism had any influence on the shooting incident.
Rampat testified he couldn’t determine if systemic racism played a role in what happened during the shooting.
This statement contradicted evidence presented earlier by another use-of-force expert who claimed Pradinuk acted within police protocol and training guidelines.
The inquiry heard from Chris Butler, who was hired by Manitoba’s police watchdog as part of its investigation into the shooting concluded in 2021.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba did not recommend criminal charges largely based on Butler’s view that Pradinuk’s actions aligned with accepted police practices.
Butler noted that their use-of-force policy matched those found in other jurisdictions.
Rampat disagreed with this assessment since Butler did not account for cellphone footage appearing to show the Jeep moving away from officers. Butler expressed caution about relying on witness video evidence due to concerns over its accuracy or alterations.
During cross-examination on Friday, Winnipeg police lawyer Kimberly Carswell contended Rampat overlooked important information in his report.
Carswell questioned why some witness statements weren’t included along with accounts from others inside the Jeep when forming his analysis.
“The reasonableness of this perception that there is a threat is backed up by numerous witness statements which say otherwise. How did you overlook this in your report?” she asked.
“I guess that’s an oversight on my part,” Rampat replied. Eishia’s death led to protests calling for public inquiries into deaths involving Indigenous Peoples due to police actions. She was one of three First Nations individuals killed within ten days in Winnipeg during that year. Inquests don’t assign blame but can provide recommendations aimed at preventing similar fatalities. This report by The Canadian Press was first May 1, 2026. Brittany Hobson,
The Canadian Press
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“The reasonableness of this perception that there is a threat is backed up by numerous witness statements which say otherwise. How did you overlook this in your report?” she asked.
“I guess that’s an oversight on my part,” Rampat replied. Eishia’s death led to protests calling for public inquiries into deaths involving Indigenous Peoples due to police actions. She was one of three First Nations individuals killed within ten days in Winnipeg during that year. Inquests don’t assign blame but can provide recommendations aimed at preventing similar fatalities. This report by The Canadian Press was first May 1, 2026. Brittany Hobson,
The Canadian Press
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