National RCMP policy about how, when or if officers can shoot at moving vehicles was “updated” in the days after the Wilbert Bartley shooting in Kamloops, The Daily News has learned.

But the RCMP would not discuss Friday what the changes are, saying the media must file an official Access to Information and Privacy request in order to see them.

As well, police spokesmen would not discuss if or how the new policy affected the outcome of an incident in Kamloops Thursday. In that case, a man in a stolen Audi rammed two police cars as he escaped capture, injuring an officer in the process.

Const. Rose Dunsmore said at about 1 p.m., Kamloops officers tried to take the driver of a stolen Audi into custody at the Wendy’s Restaurant on Tranquille Road. The man, known to police, was with a woman passenger.

Two unmarked police cars tried to block the Audi, but the driver rammed both vehicles and manoeuvred away. In the process, a constable suffered minor injuries as he tried to open the moving car’s door to reach the driver inside.

No shots were fired.

Police continue to hunt for the stolen vehicle and its occupants. The grey Audi sustained heavy damage in the incident.

On the surface, the Thursday incident bears startling similarity to two other Kamloops incidents, except for the outcomes.

Bartley, 50, a prolific offender, was shot and killed July 30 around 6 p.m. as he rammed a police car and tried to flee. In an unrelated incident in April, an officer shot Andrew Brotherston, 21, as the man rammed a police car and tried to escape. He suffered a shoulder wound only, recovered fully and was later jailed.

Sgt. Greg Cox, one of the RCMP’s national spokesman, said Friday the policy dictating when officers can use lethal force against drivers in moving vehicles was updated in the days after the Bartley shooting.

He suggested those changes were “coincidental,” however, and not related to the Kamloops incidents. Cox would not answer other questions about the policy, saying The Daily News must file an official ATIP request. Such requests take months to complete.

Kamloops operations commander Insp. Yves Lacasse said the fact there was no shooting in this case does not suggest officers in the Bartley or Brotherston incidents fired without cause or acted in any way inappropriately.

The commander said he is aware of the policy changes, but could not comment on how or if it applied to Thursday’s situation.

Lacasse said it’s impossible to compare this case with previous incidents, no matter how similar they appear. Every situation is unique and officers are required to make split second decisions in difficult circumstances.

“Why wasn’t there a shooting yesterday? Why was there a shooting the other days? Officers go through a process that unfolds in a split second and based on all those factors, specific actions are taken.

“Comparing two situations is very unfair. Every situation is different.”

The Calgary police service continues to investigate the Bartley shooting, leaving two officers on administrative duty.

Lacasse said the fact the RCMP has been under intense national scrutiny recently is a factor that cannot be ignored.

“Some people might be apprehensive. Certainly our (officers) do not want to bring any more attention to the department. The detachment is feeling it,” he said.

Lacasse said officers worked extremely hard to get their suspect Thursday and all were disappointed the man was not apprehended.

rkoopmans@kamloopsnews.ca