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Inquiry begins today into 2012 death of a peace officer

Jun 12, 2017 | 6:45 AM

CALGARY – A fatality inquiry that begins today will examine the slaying of a peace officer who was responding to a dog complaint.

Rod Lazenby was a retired RCMP officer who was responsible for enforcing bylaws in the Municipal District of Foothills south of Calgary.

The 62-year-old died in August 2012 after going to Trevor Kloschinsky’s rural property south of Calgary.

He was charged with first-degree murder but was found not criminally responsible in 2014 on the grounds that a mental disorder meant he didn’t understand what he was doing was wrong.

Kloschinsky told officers he had apprehended a “dog thief” and doctors testified at his trial that they found him “actively psychotic.”

Yesterday, R-C-M-P Sergeant Ryan Singleton testified there was a note on Kloschinsky’s file indicating mental-health issues and the municipal district had made it clear that no one should go to the property without police backup.

Singleton said there hadn’t been any previous indication that Kloschinsky was dangerous, and in fact thought his dogs were being stolen.

The inquiry is scheduled to last until Friday.

(The Canadian Press)