Questions like, “But he went to church with me as a boy. How can he be a killer now? No, no, no..”
CBC Radio was reporting on the story this morning and that was pretty much all a childhood friend of Kevin Gregson had to say. He’s the RCMP officer who stabbed and killed an Ottawa city police officer and was already in hot water for knife threats against a Mormon bishop here in Saskatchewan. This is certainly not a typical cop death.
In April 2007, Gregson pleaded guilty in a Regina court to uttering a death threat against a Mormon bishop, but received a conditional discharge when his lawyer persuaded the judge that cysts in Gregson’s brain had contributed to his behaviour.
The court heard that Gregson was off duty when he approached Bishop Robert Howie about receiving what’s called a “temple recommend,” which allows members to enter a Mormon temple for religious ceremonies.
When the bishop told Gregson he had additional spiritual work to do before he could receive the recommendation, Gregson became angry and said: “I’m a cop, I’m not like the rest of you,” according to court documents.
Gregson then pulled out a knife and said, “You don’t know how many ways I’ve been taught to kill.”
After he calmed down, Gregson left the bishop’s office complaining about feeling “messed up” in his head, court heard.
Several months after that incident, Gregson was diagnosed with cysts in his brain. He has since had brain surgery and been under suspension without pay from his position at the RCMP’s Regina headquarters.
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