Canada

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Man charged with murder after death of peace officer

By: Lauren Krugel

Posted: 08/12/2012 1:00 AM

CALGARY -- RCMP have charged a man with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a retired Mountie who was working as a peace officer in a small community south of Calgary.

Police say Trevor Kloschinsky, 46, makes his first court appearance Monday morning in Calgary to face the charge.

Rod Lazenby died Friday after he responded to what police describe as a dog-related call at Kloschinsky's home in Priddis, Alta., RCMP Inspector Garrett Woolsey said Saturday.

Lazenby of High River, Alta., worked for the Municipal District of Foothills. He was a Mountie for 35 years before retiring in 2006.

News stories from 2002 said Lazenby was part of an elaborate sting operation in Ottawa where officers posed as Italian mobsters to try and get a suspect to confess to murder.

In news reports covering the trial, Lazenby described in court how he portrayed Rod Calabria, the ruthless head of an organized crime group, by faking an Italian accent and pretending to lead a lavish lifestyle.

"On behalf of the RCMP, I would like to express our condolences to the Lazenby family, to his daughter, to his wife and to his extended family," Woolsey told reporters.

"This is the type of incident that affects everybody engaged in law enforcement in Alberta."

The RCMP's chaplain, employee assistance program and victim support unit are providing counselling to the family and any police officers who may have been affected, Woolsey added.

RCMP have released few details about what happened except to say no shots were fired.

Lazenby was driven to a Calgary police station in medical distress, but died later in hospital.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday in Calgary to determine the cause of Lazenby's death.

Kloschinsky was known to police, but did not have a criminal record, Woolsey said.

June Caswell, who lives next door to the property where Lazenby had been dispatched to, said dogs on the property were noisy. She said her neighbours reported their complaints to the district, but she said she and her husband never did.

She said the problems with the dogs had been ongoing for a couple of years.

Amber Kerr, a manager at the Priddis Cafe and Grill, said the man who other customers told her lived on the property was a bit of a problem at the business earlier this year. "He used to come in the cafe sometimes and use the phone and would absolutely scream at the (municipal district) about his dogs," said Kerr.

Peace officers with the Foothills district do not carry guns, but are armed with pepper spray and a baton.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 12, 2012 A5