MCC Day 28 - S/Sgt. Rehill's Pre-taped Testimony & How Commissioners Might Rebuild Confidence

Staff Sergeant Brian Rehill testified yesterday, by Zoom, and the video was released this morning. S/Sgt. Rehill had asked for accomodations to allow the testimony to not be broadcast live, and for him to not be cross examined. The MCC Commissioners granted his request, but should be having second thoughts after watching him testify without trouble for over five hours. S/Sgt. Rehill testified about miscommunications on the containment efforts in Portapique, the dynamic of having multiple commanders giving orders over the radio, and distinctions between his evidence and S/Sgt. Halliday's when it came to knowledge of the gunman's replica police car. MCC lawyer Roger Burrill asked the direct questions, and then asked some questions on behalf of the other participants. It is not clear why this procedure was considered less traumatic for the S/Sgt. than having another lawyer ask the same questions, though Burrill's gentle approach and lack of any follow-up may be the answer. In the video, I talk about what I think the Commissioners need to start doing in order to start fostering and establishing some confidence among the participants and the public. It is *not* more pre-written, vaguely phrased remarks about how difficult all this must be for everyone.