Police will no longer be investigating themselves

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The BC government has set up an independent body to investigate complaints about the police. 

“It will conduct criminal investigations into police-related incidents involving death or serious harm, and will be able to do investigations involving other serious incidents,” announced solicitor general Shirley Bond, adding that it should be up and running by the end of the year and it will be headed up by a civilian, not a police officer.

This was one of the recommendations that came from the Braidwood Inquiry, which looked into the death of Robert Dziekanski who died after being Tasered by officers at YVR in 2007. It also came to the forefront when 22-year-old Ian Bush was shot in the back of the head by a Mountie in Houston way back in 2005.

“I’ve been waiting since the Braidwood Inquiry to have this happen, then with the change in government I was a little worried it would take longer. I’m very, very happy,” says Linda Bush, Ian’s mother. “Any time there is an incident now we just think ‘Oh, I wish the independent investigation was already happening.'”

It’s been something Mark Surakka has been lobbying for, as well. His daughter and another man were killed in Mission in 2008. The police officer who was called to the scene to investigate didn’t bother to get out of his car to knock on the door. Four days later, his daughter was finally found and she died on the way to the hospital.

He’s curious about how exactly it will work. “There are some questions. I’m not an authority on this issue, but I think and hope people will feel free to contribute,” he says.

The BC Civil Liberties Association is applauding the move.  “We expect this legislation is crafted to meet the Braidwood Inquiry recommendations at a minimum, but also hope the province will consider [VPD] Chief Jim Chu’s proposal to expand the mandate of this body beyond death or serious harm issues,” says Robert Holmes, president of the BCCLA.