A Canadian police chief offered up bizarre advice for citizens handling home invasions – suggesting that people should ‘just comply.’

At a press briefing on September 3, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween advised residents not to confront intruders if they experience a home invasion. 

‘The best defense for most people is to comply,’ MacSween said at the conference. 

He emphasized, “It’s important to rely on our police services. Dial 911 immediately and allow us to handle the situation. We often observe that when individuals comply, they avoid injuries.” 

However, just two days later, MacSween found himself needing to address criticism from both celebrities and the public, as they condemned his unusual recommendation. This backlash came shortly after a father of three lost his life protecting his family during a break-in.

American actor, producer and director Kevin Sorbo refuted MacSween’s advice with two examples of tragic victims of recent home invasions.

‘A man was just executed in front of his family during a home invasion,’ Sorbo wrote on X.

‘A 3-year-old girl was just raped by an intruder. Canadian police chief Jim MacSween told his citizens that “your best defense is to just comply.”‘

York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween (pictured) advised in a news conference on September 3 that residents shouldn’t take matters into their own hands if they are a victim of a home invasion

American actor, producer and director Kevin Sorbo refuted MacSween’s advice with two examples of tragic victims of recent home invasions 

Criticism arose against the Canadian Police Chief, with one person questioning: “Are you suggesting we allow intruders to enter our homes, take everything, and harm our families? Thank goodness for our right to self-protection!”

Another person responded to Sorbo, pointing out: “Kevin, these are just a couple of incidents in Canada recently. Crime seems uncontrollable here. It’s true, the Police Chief told Canadians simply to comply.”

‘No Chief MacSween, their best defense is not to comply, rather it is to shoot the rapists/intruders dead and protect their families and their homes. But your government took the guns from citizens, didn’t you? You prevented Canadians from defending their most basic rights’ another commenter angrily wrote.

One added: ‘Comply to what? The invaders If your government and police force tell you to comply with this, your country is falling.’

‘We are the laughing stock of the world. That statement from the police chief just told the criminals to go ahead, nothing will be done. In rural places, there’s no such thing as home invasions,’ another declared.

Days after the conference, MacSween said in a statement that his advice was ‘suggested as a tactic in the hopes of preserving lives.’

‘When I told citizens not to take matters into their own hands, it had nothing to do with politics, or with concern over force used against the perpetrators of home invasions,’ he added. 

‘It was suggested as a tactic in the hopes of preserving lives, should citizens be confront with an armed intruder. When it comes to defending property, material items can be replaced – but lives cannot.’ 

‘There is no one piece of advice to offer to citizens who are faced with an intruder in their home – but calling 9-1-1 immediately and avoiding engagement with the suspects has proven to be an effective course of action,’ MacSween continued. 

‘These situations are dynamic, chaotic, and difficult to assess in the moment.’ 

The police chief also expressed his ‘deepest sympathies for the family and loved ones of Mr. Abdul Aleem Farooqi,’ who was shot and killed in an invasion of his home (pictured) on August 31

Police said 46-year-old Farooqi (pictured), a father of three, had ‘confronted’ the three suspects while defending his family

The police chief also expressed his ‘deepest sympathies for the family and loved ones of Mr. Abdul Aleem Farooqi,’ who was shot and killed in a home invasion on August 31. 

Police said 46-year-old Farooqi, a father of three, had ‘confronted’ the three suspects while defending his family. In a GoFundMe for his wife and children, he was described as a ‘humble man, a devoted husband, and a loving father.’

‘He poured his life into his family, and his greatest joy was being with his kids. He was the kind of person who made everyone around him feel safe, loved, and cared for. Now, in the blink of an eye, a pillar of his family and our community has been taken from us,’ the fundraiser said. 

York Regional Police called this a ‘targeted incident’, but stressed that there is ‘no immediate threat to public safety’.

‘At this time, it is believed that the house was specifically targeted for a robbery. We are still looking into any and all motives behind the robbery, but currently we believe this to be based on monetary gain only and that the victim was not an intended target,’ police said in an update.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the suspects ‘scumbags’ during a press conference.

‘This innocent man got his doors kicked in in the middle of the night, four people went in there — his three kids are there, his wife — had a gun to one of the kids, he went to protect them and these scumbags shot him right in front of his kids, shot him dead, twice,’ Ford said.

‘Just imagine the trauma these kids are gonna go through for the rest of their lives,’ he added.

Dean Cain reposted a video of MacSween side by side with Florida’s Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd which was captioned, ‘Difference between being a victim (and) saving your life evidenced in this clip’

Dean Cain, a US actor who also recently decided to join the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an agent, appeared to agree with the sentiments that action need be taken by citizens.

Cain reposted a video of MacSween side by side with Florida’s Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd which was captioned, ‘Difference between being a victim (and) saving your life evidenced in this clip.’

Judd said in the clip that followed MacSween that ‘criminals are going to take their criminal conduct into the neighborhoods,’ as he encouraged county residents to arm themselves.  

‘I would tell them if you value your life you probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County, because the people of Polk County like guns. They have guns. I encourage them to own guns,’ he said. 

‘And they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded and if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.’ 

The critique of Canada’s handling of home invasions, especially violent ones, has also come from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. 

In a post on X, Poilievre said: ‘The law needs to be clear. If someone invades your home, you have the right to defend your home and your family.’

The post was accompanied by a video of Poilievre declaring that during a home invasion, citizens ‘need to be able to do whatever is necessary’ to protect their family and property.

In a post on X, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre (pictured) said: ‘The law needs to be clear. If someone invades your home, you have the right to defend your home and your family’

Currently, Canada’s law stipulates that a homeowner may ‘safeguard themselves, others and their property as long as their defensive actions are reasonable and proportional to the circumstances,’ according to criminal law firm Dunn and Associates. 

However, the Calgary-based law firm stated that the terms were incredibly ‘subjective’ making it difficult to clarify the extent of what is reasonable and proportional.   

MacSween furthered in his statement: ‘I understand the feelings of pain and anger boiling to the surface in our community and I understand why people feel the need to fight back and dissatisfied with any direction to do otherwise.

‘Ultimately, a citizen should do what they deem necessary to preserve their own safety, and the safety of their loved ones.’  

‘Our top priority is solving this heinous, disgusting crime and ensuring those responsible are held accountable. That’s what the Farooqi family, and all of York Region deserves,’ he concluded. 

The Daily Mail reached out to York Regional Police Department for comment.