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Darren James Cardinal, 26, was shot to death June 30th, 2006.

Cardinal was shot by Edmonton Police Service Const. Daniel Furman, 26, while returning fire.

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first anniversary | Cardinal's background | Furman's background
the protective vest | other police shootings | other officers down

At about 10:30 p.m. on June 29th, 2006 police were called to the area of 128 Avenue and 68 Street in response to a report of a disturbance.

Police found no evidence of a disturbance and were about to leave when they were directed to a duplex at 12838 68 Street by someone who told them there was a man inside with a gun.

Three officers approached the house at about 12:20 a.m. on June 30th. A number of residents were inside at the time.

Reports suggest the three entered the side door of the duplex. From there stairs lead up to the main floor and down to the basement. A senior officer, who had about 25 years of experience, went upstairs to talk to the residents.

Const. Daniel Furman, just in his third year of service, and another officer, with two years of experience, went down to the basement.

At about 12:30 a.m. Furman and the other officer encountered Darren James Cardinal. Without warning Cardinal began firing a gun at them.

Furman was shot three times, at least once at close range. One bullet struck him in the centre of his chest; one bullet hit him in his side near the shoulder before passing through his body; a third round shattered his left wrist.

Furman's light body armour stopped the first bullet but the second shot caught him in an unprotected area. According to the Edmonton Sun, the round hit his lungs.

Furman managed to return fire as did the other officer. Neighbours reported hearing two or three shots, followed by a pause and then six or seven more. A source told the Sun 11 shots were fired at Cardinal.

The wounded officer was taken to the Royal Alex Hospital. It was reported his injuries required extensive surgery. He remains there in serious but stable condition. On July 4th CTV Edmonton reported Furman was taken off a ventilator and was breathing on his own.

Cardinal was transported to hospital but died after three hours from multiple gunshot wounds. An autopsy was completed but results have not been released.

Early reports indicated a fifteen-year-old girl, also in the basement, received minor injuries from flying wood splinters.

As per provincial protocol, the RCMP assigned a co-commander from Edmonton Major Crimes Unit to investigate. Edmonton homicide detectives are assisting.

Police descended on the scene following the shooting. One eyewitness counted 23 police vehicles.

Neighbours reported the house, owned by the Metis Urban Housing Corporation, was known for drug use and was a location police had been to many times.

Persons inside were often heard screaming and fighting over money.

One neighbour recently saw a man in the yard wave a full-sized sword around before disappearing back into the house.

Another neighbour said a woman and her boyfriend lived in the house with two children who hadn't been recently seen.

On July 5th, 2006 the Edmonton Sun carried a story adding details to Cardinal's death.

The Sun reported Furman was shot four times and that Cardinal was shot 13 times, with nine of the bullets "pumped" into his chest.

Cardinal's father, David Ward, said he had some serious questions about the incident.

"There was some very unnecessary things done there and the police should be able to answer for them," said Ward.

Ward said the medical examiner told him Cardinal was shot an estimated 13 times.

"One shot would have been enough to subdue him. Why did they have to go in there and blast him to pieces?"

Ward also wanted to know why the Edmonton Police Service tactical team wasn't called in to deal with his son.

On July 6th, 2006 the Edmonton Journal quoted a police spokesman saying they couldn't get into exact numbers and while Cardinal was shot multiple times, it was not as many times as his father claimed.

The Journal also said Furman was shot four times, adding a shot to the arm to his list of injuries.

Furman was moved out of intensive care and his condition was upgraded to stable.

On July 10th, 2006 Furman was released from the Royal Alexandra hospital.

A police spokesman said he was recuperating at home and it would be some time before he was prepared to return to work.

"I think this is a very traumatic experience for (him and his family)," a police spokesman said. "There's a lot of healing to do as well yet." Furman and his family were said to be "in good spirits."

It was also reported there was extensive damage to Furman's hand.

In July 2007, on the first anniversary of the shooting of Darren James Cardinal, media updated the story by interviewing his still-grieving parents and the man who shot him.

Mildred Ward, Darren's mother, told the Edmonton Sun she still cries every day.

"He was my baby and he was so good to me. I think about him every day, and I sit and cry," she said. "Oh God, I am lost without my son. He's gone and there's nobody here to help me."

The 63-year-old woman often thinks about her son's final moments and figured he must have felt cornered when police entered the basement.

"He did shoot a police officer but it's because he was trapped in there. He didn't have a killer instinct," Mildred said, adding Darren suffered from diabetes-induced mood swings.

Saying that she is not angry with police, Mildred still felt "hurt" that her son was shot so many times. She remains grateful no police officers died in the shooting.

"I'm so glad that Darren didn't kill nobody when he passed on."

For Cardinal's father, David Ward, the pain also remained.

"It's something you'll never get over," he said.

The couple said they have had no updates from police since the shooting on the status of an RCMP investigation looking into the matter.

Mildred said she wasn't holding her breath to learn about what took place that night.

"What's the sense of waiting for answers? The police always have answers for everything. You can't fight the law," she said.

Contacted by the Sun, an Edmonton police spokesman said homicide detectives have wrapped up their investigation and the file was now with the Calgary Crown prosecutor's office.

Regarding the officer who shot Cardinal, Staff Sgt. Peter Ratcliff, president of the Edmonton Police Association, said Const. Dan Furman was well on the road to recovery and working four days a week training new recruits.

Ratcliff also said a fatality inquiry will likely be held into the case, but no date was scheduled.

Speaking to the Edmonton Journal, Furman said he wasn't yet ready to return to street duty.

"As much as I'm physically better, there's an emotional component to it as well. I could see that stopping me," he said. "Chances are I will go back to the street one day, but not right now.

"I can definitely say it's the scariest thing that's ever happened to me. It's probably one of my worst fears, to end up in a position like that."

Furman spoke of sharing his experience with new officers.

"If I can take anything out of a negative experience, what better way to make a positive than to share [the incident] with recruits."

With the investigation of the shooting still before justice officials, Furman said he couldn't talk about the event or even tally the number of bullets that hit him.

The officer recalled being carried by his partners to a waiting stretcher outside the house.

"I just remember them hoping they wouldn't hit my head on the way out. My bond with those two guys from that night has just solidified."

He said he remembered going into surgery, then waking up six days later in intensive care surrounded by his fiancee and family.

Furman then spent a month lying on a couch, recuperating. He then started walking, and on his first outing he managed a half-block. Soon it was full blocks, then he began running.

After a year taking physiotherapy, Furman said he was in his best shape ever and runs most days at the police training centre.

In November 2006 he got married and the couple moved into a new home. "It ended up being one of my best years ever."

Furman, whose younger brother is also an Edmonton police officer, said he never once considered giving up his job.

"You don't ever truly expect it to happen, but it did happen. You have to put things into perspective," he said. "I joined this job to help people. I joined it to be part of a team.

"This experience, it showed me how big and how much of a family I'm really a part of."

On August 28th, 2008 the Canadian Police Association honoured the three officers involved in Cardinal's shooting with their National Award of Excellence.

Canadian Police Association National Award of Excellence

Const. Dan Furman, Const. Terry Cassells, and Const. Jason Mitchell were honoured for heroic deeds that go beyond the call of duty at a ceremony held in St. John's, Newfoundland.

"These officers are a shining example of courage under fire," Edmonton Police Service acting chief Norm Lipinski said in a news release.

"Despite serious injury, their dedication and commitment to the citizens of Edmonton saw them through this deadly situation."

The Canadian Police Association represents more than 57,000 police officers across the country.

The Edmonton Sun contacted Darren Cardinal's father, David Ward, for his reaction. He said he doesn't believe the officers deserve the recognition.

According to the medical examiner's report he received, his son was shot up to 13 times.

"Once a person's down with a couple of shots, I can't see shooting that many times. There's no reason for that," said Ward, still upset over his son's death.

"With what happened, I know Darren did wrong, and I know they had to do their job, but I think it was excessive force. Once a person's disabled, why kill him?"

With news of the officer's award came word that the RCMP review of the shooting, looked over by the Calgary Crown prosecutor's office, found no criminal involvement on the part of the police.

Ward said he plans to attend an upcoming fatality inquiry – but doesn't hold much hope that the outcome will be different.

"Once they've got something like that settled, it's their say-so over mine," he said. "What they say is law, and that's it. You can't fight them on it."

Cardinal's background

Darren James Cardinal, an Edmonton resident, had numerous weapons charges against him and a warrant out for his arrest.

In April 2006 Cardinal's name came up during a Global Edmonton television report regarding Edmonton police efforts to apprehend those on outstanding drug warrants.

Cardinal was arrested after an incident on December 23rd, 2005 near an apartment building at 12036 66 Street. At about 1:30 a.m. tenants heard gunshots and called police. No one was hurt and residents speculated the shooting was a drug deal gone wrong.

Cardinal was charged with mischief, possession of a restricted weapon and use of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was released on $2,000 bail January 13th, 2006 and was slated to appear in court in March 2007.

In February 2002, Cardinal was charged with aggravated assault in connection with a stabbing at the Express Bar near 128 Avenue and 66 Street. The attack left a 20-year-old bar customer with a collapsed lung.

An Edmonton Sun source familiar with the gang scene said Cardinal was associated with several aboriginal street gangs.

In interviews with print media, Cardinal's friend Amanda Lutz spoke of how she knew Darren and his family for over a decade, considering him a stepbrother.

"It's just a hurting thing right now. I just want people to know he was still good. He tried to help anyone he could."

Lutz said she hadn't seen Cardinal in a month but spoke to him two weeks before his death.

"He seemed fine then, like he was getting back on track. He had applied for jobs and was lining things up," Lutz said.

"He didn't lead an easy life. He made some bad choices, but he was good-hearted. He'd rather help someone than hurt them."

A father of two, Cardinal had three older brothers. His parents live in Edmonton and he has one son who lives with his mother outside the city.

Cardinal worked various jobs around the city including a recent stint as a plumber at the University of Alberta hospital. Lutz said he lived off-and-on at different homes.

Furman's background

Described by fellow officers as friendly, outgoing, both a practical joker and a real common-sense guy, Dan Furman quit the construction business to follow his dream and became an Edmonton police officer.

Engaged to be married this year, Dan had been on the force for just over two years.

Recently his younger brother, Michael, also became a police officer.

Together the brothers and a sister grew up in the Castle Downs neighbourhood.

The Furman family has chosen to not release any statements to the media at this time.

The protective vest

Police credit Furman's body armour for his survival. At the time of the shooting the use of bulletproof vests was not mandatory for Edmonton Police Service members.

Furman was wearing a rectangular protective Teflon plate measuring 15 by 30 cm which is slipped into the front pocket of a bullet-resistant vest similar to the one pictured. It offers extra protection for the heart and lungs.

All Edmonton police members are issued both a vest and plate.

The service uses a number of different vests -- one of the most common is the Apex model manufactured by Michigan-based Second Chance Body Armor.

Second Chance claims nearly 1,000 lives have been saved by its products, more than all other body armour manufacturers combined according to company claims.

In 2004, Edmonton Police Service signed a $1.3-million contract with Second Chance to outfit up to 1,400 officers with protective gear.

Citing officer safety, a police spokesman offered no other details on the protective equipment currently used.

"If the bad guys start to learn what our officers wear, they can change their habits," the spokesman said.

Chief Mike Boyd recently instructed officers to wear a hat at all times when working with the public.

Other police shootings

The use of deadly force is an unfortunate consequence of policing Edmonton's streets.

In 1974 Dan Smith was shot by police after a three-hour siege at The House of Coin. Police repeatedly fired tear gas containers into the building before Smith opened a side door and was fatally wounded.

In 1975 Donald Rose was fatally shot after refusing to surrender a machine gun outside his home following a liquor-store holdup.

In 1979 Grant Bird died in a shootout with police at Shokal Gunsmith Ltd. A passerby, Carlo Mauro, was also killed in the gunfire.

In 1981 police investigated a routine call from a woman arguing with her son over a television set. The situation escalated and police shot and killed Kenneth Shank.

In 1984 a police task-force member opened fire on James William Townshend who had raced towards the officer carrying a loaded sawed-off shotgun. Townshend died from a single shotgun blast to the chest.

In 1986 police shot Dan Rogers behind his apartment building during a police stakeout. Rogers had been under investigation for a series of break-ins in the city.

Also in 1986 Phil Forest struggled with an officer, stabbing him several times with a carving knife. The officer then shot Forest, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

In 1990 police shot Erwin Harrison Adams who had been threatening family members and police with two knives. He died in hospital 10 months later.

Also in 1990 Randy Long was shot in the chest when Long lunged at police with a knife. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

On January 5th, 2000 Long Duy Hoang aka Crazy Jimmy was fatally shot by police after shooting at an officer during a high-risk takedown.

The Asian gang member shot twice at tactical team cops before going down in a hail of bullets when he refused to surrender after a high-speed chase. An inquiry cleared the police shooting.

On May 16th, 2001 John Peter Pavic was shot during a struggle with Const. Ken Brander.

Police tactical officers entered Pavic's apartment at 11453 40 Avenue after Pavic had gotten in a fight with a neighbour and threatened to kill him.

Brander thought Pavic was under control after a stun gun was fired when Pavic came at him with a knife in each hand. Brander fired six shots at Pavic.

On September 18th, 2003 police shot a man in the hand after he rammed a cruiser with a stolen van. This ended a chase through the city's west end.

On June 10th, 2004 a 15-year-old boy was shot in the arm in south Edmonton after threatening to kill an officer. He was carrying a gun and police believed he was high on drugs.

On March 11th, 2005 Daniel Lippa was shot by two officers outside an apartment building near 148th Avenue and 26th Street.

Lippa came around the corner of the building with a knife in his hand. He refused police orders to drop the weapon and then came at them with the knife. Two officers fired at least seven times at Lippa and hit him twice.

In March 2008 Edmonton police ruled the shooting as justified.

On May 12th, 2005 police shot Gregory Shawn Severight and Sarah Catherine Brooks after a 20-minute pursuit through Edmonton's west end. The driver of a stolen vehicle tried to run down an officer.

On July 27th, 2006 Kirk Steele was shot six times by Const. Bruce Edwards after Steele stabbed Police Service Dog Wizzard while being chased by officers.

An Edmonton Police Service investigation cleared Edwards in the matter and Steele recently launched a million-dollar lawsuit claiming police went over the line.

Steele was charged with possession of a weapon, obstructing a police officer and escape from lawful custody the day it was announced that Edwards was cleared.

On July 6th, 2007 a woman in an Inglewood area apartment was shot when she approached a female officer in a "threatening manner" with a knife.

An RCMP investigation of the shooting, reviewed by Alberta Justice's Special Prosecutions branch, recommended that no criminal charges be sworn against Edmonton Police Service members.

In the fall of 2007, the Alberta Government set up the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), an independent watchdog with a mandate "to investigate incidents or complaints involving serious injury or death of any person, and matters of a serious or sensitive nature, that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer."

Clifton Purvis - Edmonton Sun photograph

ASIRT is led by a civilian director, Clifton G. Purvis, a Crown prosecutor who last worked for Project KARE.

Purvis was instrumental in bringing the task force's case against Thomas George Svekla.

Reporting to Purvis are a civilian assistant director, two civilian criminal analysts, four civilian investigators and ten police officers (from the Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, and the RCMP).

ASIRT has jurisdiction over all police officers in the Province of Alberta. Half the team is based in Edmonton and half in Calgary.

On December 5th, 2007 Edmonton police fired on a person when a man in a pickup truck charged toward an officer during a routine traffic stop on Anthony Henday Drive. RCMP are investigating the matter as the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was not yet up and running.

On August 8th, 2008 Percy Davis was shot by Edmonton police after a man waving a knife outside Abbottsfield Mall refused an officer's orders to drop the weapon.

The Davis shooting case was the first investigation for the newly-formed ASIRT team.

Other officers down

The shooting of Dan Furman came 16 years and 5 days after the fatal shooting of Const. Ezio Faraone.

Faraone, 33, a member of the Edmonton Police Service tactical squad, was shot to death after a robbery on June 25th, 1990.

In an alley south of 118th Avenue between 124th and 123rd Streets, Faraone came upon a getaway vehicle used by Albert Foulston and Jerry Crews.

When Faraone approached, Foulston put his hands in the air. Crews, hidden in the back seat, blasted Faraone in the heart with a shotgun.

Crews, convicted of first-degree murder, was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 25 years.

Foulston, convicted of manslaughter, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On May 31st, 2006 he was denied parole.

Foulston had nearly fifty convictions when Faraone was shot. After fourteen years in jail he had over 100 violations on his institutional record. He has spent much of his time in segregation because of his behaviour toward other inmates and prison staff.

Faraone was honoured by a statue erected in a park named after him. Ezio Faraone Park, located at the northwest end of the High Level Bridge, opened in 1992.

Faraone was one of only three Edmonton police officers to be murdered in the line of duty.

On October 17th, 1918 Const. Frank Beevers was fatally shot after confronting an armed robbery suspect.

Beevers had staked out the Northern Hotel at 97th Street and 102nd Avenue looking for fugitive killer Joseph Campbell.

Joseph Campbell had earlier robbed and murdered city clothier Sam Zappler after an all-night drinking and card game.

When other officers flushed Campbell from his room, he bolted for the back door, struggled with Beevers and shot him twice at close range. Beevers died a short time later.

Campbell was arrested a week later at the Imperial Hotel in Leduc. He was executed by hanging April 23rd, 1919 at the Fort Saskatchewan jail.

Less than a year later on August 31st, 1919 Const. William Leslie Nixon was walking his beat near 104th Avenue and 101st Street.

Nixon approached a suspicious man loitering by the Twin City Transfer Company. When questioned, the stranger pulled a revolver from his jacket, opened fire and fled. Nixon died later in hospital.

Over the years the Edmonton Police Service lost other members in the line of duty.

On December 5th, 1949 Const. George Rowley Vaughan died while attempting to start a stalled police vehicle at 106th Street and Princess Elizabeth Avenue. Vaughan fell and struck his head. He died 27 hours later.

On December 16th, 1950 after quelling a drunken brawl at the Arrow Café at 10245 96 Street, Detective Jean Baptiste Arial suffered a heart attack in the Criminal Investigation Division office. He passed away in hospital 2 hours later.

During a violent windstorm on May 8th, 1955, Const. George Donnelly was dispatched to a call of a downed power line on Saskatchewan Drive at 102nd Street. He was electrocuted when he came in contact with a 4000-volt powerline.

On November 24th, 1956 Const. David Anthony Romano was driving to a domestic dispute complaint. His vehicle collided with a truck travelling on the wrong side of Mill Creek Bridge east of 96th Street on Whyte Avenue. Romano was killed instantly.

On July 2nd, 1959 Sergeant Malcolm Groat Finlayson Jack died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision. While on route to a fire alarm at the Capital City Box Company, the police vehicle in which he was a passenger was struck at 93rd Street and 104th Avenue by a fire truck responding to the same alarm.

On June 12th, 1986, Const. Jeffrey Wilkes suffered liver and spleen damage when he was stabbed four times by Philippe Andre Forest. The officer had gone to Forest's home to investigate an earlier assault. Wilkes only survived by killing Forest.

In 1988, Const. Mike Lakusta was shot in the back of the head while transporting Leo Mathew Teskey to the Londonderry police station.

On January 9th, 1988 Teskey, then 17, was arrested for mischief after firing a gun at power poles in an alley near Wellington Hardware at 132nd Avenue and 132 Street.

Teskey said at his trial he got the gun as collateral from a friend who bought his stereo. He said he was on his way to sell it at an arcade when he decided to test it.

Unknown to Lakusta, Teskey had taken four hits of LSD an hour before his arrest.

As Lakusta approached the Londonderry station, Teskey pulled down his jeans to retrieve a .32-calibre short loaded revolver he had hidden between his buttocks. Teskey hadn't been handcuffed.

Teskey cocked the revolver and the gun hit a side of the open protective shield separating the police car's passenger compartment. The gun went off.

Teskey said he had no idea Lakusta had been shot until he heard him radio the fact to headquarters.

A bullet was removed from the back of Lakusta's neck in a one-hour operation. He fully recovered and returned to active duty two months after the shooting.

In a victim impact statement, Lakusta wrote he suffered from headaches, hearing loss, loss of balance and some control of his right eye.

Teskey was acquitted on a charge of attempted murder with the judge citing his LSD-caused impairment as a mitigating factor.

He was found guilty of stealing Lakusta's police car, unlawful use of a handgun while committing an indictable offence and unlawful escape. Teskey was sentenced to three years and 10 months in jail. The sentence was reduced to 22 months because of time Teskey spent in pre-trial custody.

For more about the man who was later declared a dangerous offender, visit the Leo Teskey page.

Information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against individuals named on this web site.
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deadmonton 2006 - darren james cardinal