Luke Sanocki is another poster-boy for all that’s wrong with our criminal justice system.

In 2011, Sanocki attempted to run down three police officers in a bid to escape a traffic stop with his Dodge Charger, which was loaded with illegal drugs.

In December, 2019, Sanocki robbed a Winnipeg hotel at gunpoint. He was arrested for that crime as well as for violating an existing Firearm Prohibition Order from his previous criminal convictions.

Still, a Winnipeg judge granted Luke Sanocki bail.

“Luke Sanocki was ultimately released from custody but has failed to appear in court,” says a Winnipeg Police Service news release dated March 8, 2020.

I don’t know why anyone is shocked by his failure to appear. Given his long criminal resume (see below) this result was all but guaranteed.

The question we desperately need an answer to is this:

Why was this violent repeat offender granted bail in the first place?

It’s also the question nobody in the court system or government wants to address.

As a result, Luke Pawel Sanocki remains on the loose and poses a continuing threat to public safety – thanks to a system and a government that believes federally-licenced, RCMP vetted firearm owners are a greater danger to society than career criminals who violate Firearm Prohibition Orders and attempt to run down police officers with their cars.

It doesn’t have to make sense. It’s government policy.

Designed to Fail

People with a history of violent offences are a proven danger to public safety, yet these are the people our government refuses to check on or track.

• No police agency in Canada tracks individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them.
• There is no legal requirement for police to track individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them or routinely check on them to ensure compliance.
• There is no legal requirement for individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders to notify police when they move to a new residence. Police have no idea where these people are.

Contact the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Public Safety

If you, like me, want to see violent criminal offenders tracked, please write to the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Public Safety and demand they introduce legislation to prevent more tragedies like this.

The Honourable David Lametti
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
Email the Minister of Justice

The Honourable Bill Blair
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons
Ottawa, Canada K1A 0A6
Email the Minister of Public Safety

Luke Sanocki’s Criminal History

Luke Pawel Sanocki’s long criminal history includes:

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, (2011)
• Failing to remain at the scene of an accident,
• Assault with a weapon and
• Drug possession,
• Armed Robbery Using a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm, (2018)
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order x 2,
• Wear Disguise with Intent,
• Point a Firearm x 2,
• Failure to Appear, and
• Breach of Probation.

Blue Line Magazine reports Sanocki was sentenced to 28 months in prison for his 2011 attempt to run down police officers with his vehicle.

It’s possible Luke Sanocki was convicted of more crimes than those identified above, but no court records are found for him in the Canadian Legal Information Institute database (canlii.org), a problem I’m seeing more often as news agencies report sentencing but no court decisions are found.