Slain couple had ‘harmonious’ life

Louise Leboeuf and Claude Levesque were a “harmonious couple” who were “always together,” say friends.

Devotional gatherings were held by friends in the east and west ends of Gatineau Saturday evening, aimed at honouring the family.

Leboeuf, 63, was found dead in her Aylmer home Thursday afternoon along with her husband Levesque, 58, and daughter, Anne-Katherine Powers, 21.

“They were really kind and generous people,” said Virginie Lamaute, one of Powers’ best friends.

The trio were stabbed to death, allegedly by Powers’ estranged husband, Shakti Ramsurrun, 28.

All four lived together at 64 Felix Leclerc St., along with the young couple’s one-year-old son, who has been taken into protective custody.

Ramsurrun appeared in Gatineau court Friday and is facing three first-degree murder charges.

Friends say Levesque was an engineer who once worked for the city of Gatineau’s public works department and left to become a self-employed consultant.

“Claude was a very mild man,” said a close friend who asked not to be named.

The last time he saw the couple was in March when they met for lunch at Dinty’s restaurant in Aylmer.

“They were just very loving and lovable people, very compassionate, very accepting,” he said, adding Leboeuf taught workshops on love.

“Their whole philosophy was based on unity, on love, on compassion.”

Levesque had a daughter from a previous relationship, but raised Powers as his own.

“She was a little kid when he was in her life,” said Lamaute.

“For her, he was like a dad.”

Leboeuf was retired.

A few years ago, she shut down the bed & breakfastshe ran out of their home.

And before that, Leboeuf had a career in the psychiatric field, working in the U.S. for many years.

Powers was extremely close with her parents, said Lamaute.

“It was a great family.”

Funeral details have not been released.

Ramsurrun is slated to appear in court May 31.

kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @ottawasunkroche

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/05/27/slain-couple-had-harmonious-life

Man in custody after homicides

SEE VIDEO http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/05/24/major-crime-in-gatineau

A man was arrested within hours of a multiple homicide in Gatineau’s Aylmer sector Thursday afternoon.

Police aren’t confirming the number of victims, their identities, if they’re related, how they were killed, or if it’s a family dispute.

“Some dead bodies were found inside (of) 64 Felix Leclerc,” said Const. Pierre Lanthier at the scene.

Cops wouldn’t say where the suspect was cuffed but did verify it was not at the home, in a quiet upscale neighbourhood.

“We will have to interrogate that man,” said Lanthier.

“If he is related (to the homicide) he might be facing murder charges.”

More details on the crime were expected to be released Friday.

A neighbour tells the Sun three bodies were removed from the two-storey house and he knows the residents well.

“They’re good people. I can’t believe this happened to them,” said the man, who did not want to be named.

He said an elderly woman named Louise LeBoeuf lives at the home with her husband Claude Levesque, his daughter, Anne-Catherine Powers, and Powers’ boyfriend and one-year-old son.

Police have not confirmed any information regarding who lives at the home.

“We don’t want to mention any names, any sex,” said Lanthier, adding family is still being notified.

Another neighbour said he saw paramedics load wrapped bodies into an ambulance.

“I saw a couple of stretchers. I saw at least two being loaded,” said the man.

“It’s weird it happened on this street.”

The address is listed as a bed and breakfast, however, police hadn’t determined whether the business still exists.

On the front porch, a hanging basket with pink flowers remains, and a green Toyota Tercel is parked in the driveway.

Major crime detectives remained on the scene for most of the day and investigators were searching other backyards on the street, just off Lucerne Blvd. at Robert Stewart Rd.

A 911 call came in at 1:15 p.m., although cops aren’t saying who phoned it in.

Shocked neighbours stood in their driveways, watching police.

Around 2:30 p.m., cops cordoned off a second scene at the nearby Rivermead Golf Club — less than two kilometres from the house — isolating a burgundy minivan with the passenger door and the hatch open.

“Some tips and some details that we found in the investigation led us to the point of the vehicle that was found not far from the golf club,” said Lanthier.

The van was stuffed with assorted items, including two suitcases, a red gasoline can, a stuffed animal, and other children’s toys.

Both crime scenes are linked, said cops, who wouldn’t elaborate.

Multiple police cruisers surrounded the home and golf club.

“We are looking for every (piece of) evidence right now,” Lanthier said.

-with files from Tony Caldwell and Danielle Bell

kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca

@ottawasunkroche

Quebec police probe suspicious death

Quebec provincial police are investigating the death of a 57-year-old man whose body was discovered at his home Saturday afternoon.

“He was found by a member of the family,” Sgt. Ronald McInnis told the Sun late Saturday.

His house is on Principale St. in a rural area near St-Pierre-de-Wakefield, part of Val-des-Monts, about 35 minutes north of downtown Ottawa.

MRC des Collines police got the call at 1:10 p.m., and later requested Surete du Quebec officers take over the investigation.

Crime scene investigators from Montreal arrived around 10 p.m. and will be working overnight, McInnis said.

More details are expected to be released Sunday.

If the death proves to be a homicide, it would be the second in the Outaoais in the past month.

Daniel Sempels is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his pal Nicolas Quintal on April 29 near Quyon.

Quintal was beaten to death.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/05/12/quebec-police-probe-suspicious-death

$50Gs reward for info in woman’s death

Ontario Provincial Police are offering a $50,000 reward for anyone with a tip leading to an arrest in the hit and run death of a Casselman woman.

“We’re looking for more information,” said Sgt. Kristine Rae. “We haven’t made an arrest yet.”

Jessica Godin, 18, was found in a ditch by a passerby on Sept. 24, 2011 along Du Parc St. in Fournier, nearly 120 km east of downtown Ottawa.

Police said Godin left a home around 6 p.m. on Sept. 22 and was last seen between 7 and 8:15 p.m.

She had been living with a friend in Casselman.

Investigators believe Godin was struck by a vehicle travelling eastbound on Du Parc St. Cops are trying to find the car and driver.

On Friday, police will be on Du Parc St. canvassing motorists between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Last October, Hawkesbury OPP raided a home and seized a vehicle.

“That vehicle was released,” said Rae.

In addition, police are using social media. The Hawkesbury OPP crime unit has posted a second video on YouTube asking for tips.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or call Det. Const. Dan Fedele at 613-632-2729.

@ottawasunkroche

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/03/22/50gs-reward-for-info-in-womans-death

Off-duty cop nailed in ticket blitz

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/03/20/off-duty-cop-nailed-in-ticket-blitz?channelColor=news

Temps are soaring and so are speedometers.

A 68-minute blitz by Ottawa police Tuesday, their first of the season, nabbed 13 speeders including an off-duty cop on a motorcycle clocked going 202 km/h heading eastbound on Hwy. 174.

Yannik Bernard faces a charge of stunt driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

The fastest driver cops clocked was going 202 km/h, the slowest was travelling at 128 km/h.

“That’s a ridiculous speed in a bike or a car,” Sgt. Mark Gatien said right after the blitz,  not knowing the accused driver was a fellow officer.

“That’s just not acceptable and I haven’t clocked somebody at that speed in 28 years (as a police officer).”

The vehicle has been seized for seven days and the licence will be seized, said Gatien.

He’ll appear in court and faces a minimum $2,000 fine.

After the motorcyclist was pulled over and the tow truck arrived, cops had to call off the crackdown since drivers began slowing down.

“It’s still been a productive day,” said Gatien.

“The weather seems to make people’s foot heavier. It’s a nice day out, but where are you going?”

Using a tripod-mounted laser speed detector, Gatien had three cars, some unmarked, intercepting drivers once he made the call.

Gatien was feeling generous, giving motorists a 25 km/h threshold.

Const. Francis Mask was one of the officers running intercept.

He ticketed at least two drivers: One in a blue Honda going 135 km/h and a silver Jeep clocked at 133 km/h.

“We’re trying to send a message, right? A lot of people are speeding and racing on the 174 and sure enough, it’s one of the problems that we’re trying to alleviate,” said Mask.

The driver of the Honda offered no excuses, Mask said, while the man in the Jeep immediately asked for a break.

Instead, he got a ticket for more than $230.

This year’s blitz is at least four weeks earlier than usual, due to the record-breaking heat.

“I think last year (the first crackdown) was late April,” said Gatien.

Prior to Tuesday, the fastest he’s ever seen anyone go was 182 km/h.

Wednesday is expected to reach 27C.

“Be reasonable with your speeds and don’t get silly just cause it’s warm out,”  said Gatien.

Twitter: @ottawasunkroche

Thousands of X-rays stolen, suspect nabbed

Ottawa police have nabbed a Toronto-area man for allegedly stealing thousands of X-rays from across Ontario while posing as an employee of a recycling company.

The total count isn’t known but cops estimate it ranges from 25,000 to 30,000 X-rays.

“It’s looking like it could be fairly extensive,” said Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Kevin McCaffery.

“We’re in the process of cataloguing all these X-rays — many, many thousands of them.”

Police say silver can be extracted from the film and believe the man was trying to make money by selling the X-rays.

The man was caught on Feb. 22 after employees at a medical lab in Orleans — who had been warned to keep their eyes open for someone trying to collect X-rays — tipped off police.

McCaffery said staffers challenged the man and he bolted.

“Good on them,” said McCaffery.

“They sensed that something wasn’t right. And because they brought it to our attention, that ultimately resulted in an arrest being made.”

The man, driving a moving truck, was stopped and arrested by OPP in Smiths Falls, about 50 minutes from Ottawa.

McCaffery said various labs, hospitals, and clinics have been targeted.

“The X-rays are sort of handed over because there’s a belief that this person is the right person that’s supposed to be getting the X-rays for appropriate disposal,” he said.

“It isn’t just an Ottawa thing. It’s much more widespread.”

Ottawa police may end up carrying the case, McCaffery said.

“There is an effort to have any charges that might be involved with this transferred to Ottawa and dealt with at one time,” he said.

McCaffery wouldn’t confirm if the man is known to cops.

“The investigation is continuing. We’re just sort of getting all the ducks in a row,” said McCaffery.

Billy Demitro, 37, is facing a fraud charge.

He appears in Ottawa court early next week.

@ottawasunkroche

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/03/06/thousands-of-x-rays-stolen-suspect-nabbed

Culture at cop shop eating at morale: Study

Corporate culture telling Ottawa’s overworked cops to “just suck it up and get it done” has been eating away at morale, according to documents obtained by the Sun through an Access to Information request.

Excerpts from the report read like an episode of the HBO hit show The Wire.

“They have too many political agendas,” said one cop.

Within the Ottawa Police Service it’s “all about who you report to,” said another.

Police officers working sex crimes and murders cited long hours and lack of resources as the main reasons for being strung out.

“We have no say in setting our own priorities,” said one cop.

Constables, sergeants, staff sergeants, superintendents, inspectors, and civilians in the Criminal Investigation Services unit provided anonymous feedback in spring 2010 for the role overload study conducted by two business professors: Linda Duxbury from Carleton University and Christopher Higgins from the University of Western Ontario.

A summary was presented at the police services board meeting a month ago but police refused to release the full report.

A total of 233 employees responded to a survey and 94 took part in focus groups, in which they expressed frustration over skewed work-life balance, micromanagement, and lack of control over priorities.

Roughly 76% of them have worked for OPS for at least 11 years.

Other findings are police feel understaffed and overcommitted and work often interferes with family life.

And on average, cops have to go to court 33 days each year.

Roughly 75% of respondents missed family activities because they had to appear in court, while half had to attend court on their days off.

One in three risked burnout, resulting in high absenteeism and poor physical and mental health.

There are also concerns about uneven workloads — lazy cops have been rewarded with less work, while hard-working officers get more on their plate, according to respondents.

One in three cops want to see change in the corporate culture.

Many of the report’s recommendations — namely involving supervision — have already been implemented by police.

Ottawa police brass could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“I think organizational culture is one of those things that doesn’t change by revolutionary means. It’s an evolutionary process,” said Insp. Scott Brown.

And he downplayed the findings.

“I don’t think you can characterize our workplace as a place where we’re walking around you know, expressing to each other that we’re stressed out or that morale, per se, is low. I mean, that’s not necessarily a topic of daily conversation or anything like that,” said Brown.

Police services board chairman Eli El-Chantiry said he was not given the report but is proud of the membership.

“For us to be part of that study, we’re not sweeping things under the rug,” he said.

“We wanted to come out. If anything, we can learn from it and we can improve, that’s what we want to do.”

@ottawasunkroche

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/02/29/culture-at-cop-shop-eating-at-morale-study

Cops facing hiring crisis: Prof

SEE VIDEO http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/01/25/cop-facing-hiring-crisis-prof

With baby boomers retiring, fewer jobs will be up for grabs for police across the country, who didn’t hire at the end of the ’90s and early 2000s, warns a Carleton University business professor.

“A lot of our older cops are going to be leaving all at once,” said Dr. Linda Duxbury, who expects to see changes, “big time,” in the next three to five years.

Ottawa deputy police chief Gilles Larochelle says retirement is tracked and planned for because officers “either advise us ahead of time, or it’s their retirement date.”

In 2011, the expectations were for 40 retirements and 10 resignations.

“What actually happened was 40 people retired, as planned, and seven resigned,” said Larochelle.

For 2012, they’re expecting 20 and 10, respectively.

Due to a tight police budget, “we won’t be hiring additional (officers),” said Larochelle.

“The 20 that will retire, we’re going to be hiring 20 right from the young recruits.”

Across the board, many new cops simply don’t have enough experience to fill the roles, said Duxbury.

“We’re being forced to promote them too quickly…police have to be exposed to a whole bunch of situations before they move up the ladder,” she said.

“You don’t just start day one, murder investigations. You have to get your feet wet.”

The wide gap could mean young recruits won’t have proper guidance.

“We don’t have people between say, 35 and 45 who are in that succession planning pipeline: the sergeant, the staff sergeant, the inspector, who are ready to do the coaching, the mentoring, the management, et cetera,” she said.

The quality of middle-staffers will directly affect the ability to keep younger folks around.

“We can’t manufacture these people now, because they needed to be hired and started to be developed 10, 15 years ago. So what is going to happen is everyone is going to start stealing from each other, and that is hugely expensive for a police force, if in fact, they lose their talent pool.”

Police Chief Vern White was recently appointed to Senate and leaves next month.

Hiring externally, Duxbury says, signals , ‘we don’t have the talent here, we’ve got to go elsewhere,’ which means that our talent will go elsewhere, too.’”

When two boomers leave, “we’re going to need three younger people to replace them, and we’ve only got one,” she said.

@ottawasunkroche

Cops stressed out, drinking more: Study

Cops investigating murders and sex crimes are stressed out and face heavy workloads, resulting in increased use of sick leave and higher alcohol consumption, according to a study analyzing Ottawa’s police force.

It’s also resulting in them being less loyal and less engaged in their work,

The news doesn’t come as a surprise to Ottawa police brass — they asked for the report after officers made it clear they’re feeling overburdened.

“When the investigators brought forward concerns, I think it would’ve been detrimental not to act, or not do research, or not say we’re going to look into it,” said deputy police chief Gilles Larochelle.

The Criminal Investigations Directorate Enhancement Project began in 2009 and was presented at Monday’s police services board meeting.

The OPS Role Overload study led by Dr. Linda Duxbury, a business professor at Carleton University, was conducted over a 10-month period and included focus groups, a survey, and individual interviews.

Roughly 80% of criminal investigators and managers in CID took part in the anonymous survey.

Almost two dozen recommendations have already been implemented by police, said Larochelle.

Key changes involve supervision.

“Essentially, sergeants needed to be sergeants. They assumed too much the role of an investigator, as opposed to a supervisor,” said Larochelle.

When officers are given a case, “Often, there’s that pressure you put on yourself to ensure that you succeed. So that’s why a sergeant is so important to supervise and say, ‘you’re on the right track’ or ‘you need to look at this or that,’” he said.

In addition to helping the investigators, the study also provides better quality to the victims, said Larochelle.

Providing more support is expected to eventually alleviate some of the overload on investigators.

“I can’t say we’ve seen changes immediately,” said Larochelle.

He’s expecting a turnaround in about two years.

Duxbury says the mental health of police officers and work intensification and overload is an issue for police across Canada, “because city governments are trying to do more with less and they’re trying to economize, and police services is one of their more expensive budget items, but they can’t stop policing,” she said.

At the same time, “you can’t keep pushing police officers. And the problem is, that we want a safe city but we don’t want to pay for it.”

Duxbury applauds Ottawa police for taking what she calls a leadership role in addressing the issues.

@ottawasunkroche

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/01/24/cops-stressed-out-drinking-more-study

Cops bust illegal workers in Ottawa-Gatineau

SEE VIDEO http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/12/20/cops-bust-illegal-workers-in-ottawa-gatineau

The Canada Border Services Agency raided eight shopping centres in Ottawa and Gatineau Monday, arresting 30 suspected illegal workers — 15 in each city — at kiosks selling beauty products.

A booth called Seacret is set up on the main floor at Bayshore, and witnesses tell the Sun they saw one man in his early 20s taken away in cuffs by four cops and four CBSA officers shortly after 2 p.m.

“I just saw immigration and cops over there,” said Pavi Mahen.

“I was busy, doing work, and then all of a sudden I didn’t see one of the guys there. They arrested him, they took him that way,” she said, motioning toward Zellers.

“We didn’t know what was going on,” said Dana Graham, a mall employee.

“It was just a whole bunch of police officers and then they kind of left with him.”

Ottawa and Gatineau police assisted with the sweeps at Bayshore, Billings Bridge, Carlingwood,  Hazeldean, Place d’Orleans, St. Laurent, Galeries de Hull, and Promenades de l’Outaouais between 2 and 5 p.m. Monday.

At least five of the malls, including both in Quebec, have kiosks selling Dead Sea skin products from Israel, but authorities wouldn’t confirm the names of any businesses.

Several sources say the Seacret employees are Israeli, however, the CBSA isn’t saying where the suspects are originally from or how long they’ve been in Canada.

“We don’t have information on each of these individuals,” said CBSA spokesperson Stephane Malepart.

Employees at Carlingwood Mall, who didn’t want to be named, said there are at least 10 staffers working at two kiosks called Dead Sea and GRATiAE organic beauty products.

“They know each other, they do speak the same language,” said an employee, adding it sounds like Hebrew. “They are very close.”

The Dead Sea booth was closed Tuesday afternoon.

Carlingwood employees tell the Sun the Dead Sea and GRATiAE staffers are affiliated with a similar booth at St. Laurent.

The CBSA wouldn’t reveal when it was tipped off or how long it’s been investigating the kiosk operations.

“We’re not able to confirm the link between all these,” said Malepart.

“It’s the same type of business but we don’t have details on the structure.”

The Sun has learned kiosk staffers were brought in from Toronto late Monday and could be moving the operation to Montreal after Christmas.

All 30 workers are being detained in Laval, near Montreal, where they’ll appear in court Thursday.

An Immigration and Refugee Board hearing will decide whether they’ll remain in custody or released with or without conditions, said Malepart.

@ottawasunkroche