The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is calling on the Chair of
the Commission for Public Complaints Against
the RCMP (CPC), to investigate or order a hearing into the deaths
of 4 men who have recently died while in
RCMP custody or while being pursued by the RCMP.
Kevin St. Arnaud
died in December, 2004 near Vanderhoof, B.C. Gurmeet Sandhu of Surrey,
B.C. died in
June 2005 while being Tasered by the RCMP. Ian Bush died in Houston,
B.C in October 2005. Most recently,
Ryan Snopek died on or about January 1, 2006 in Cranbrook, B.C.
BCCLA President
Jason Gratl: "The CPC's refusal to order investigations in
the most serious circumstances
undermines public confidence in the entire system."
The BCCLA has
made complaints into the deaths of Mr. St. Arnaud, Mr. Sandhu and
Mr. Bush. In each case,
the RCMP has refused to investigate our complaints citing the fact
that there will be a criminal investigation,
an internal review and a coroner's inquest into the deaths.
These procedures
are not an adequate substitute for independent civilian review.
A criminal investigation
assesses conduct by a different standard. Reports to Crown Counsel
will not be made public. RCMP internal
reviews are not independent. The public has no right to access internal
reports. Coroner's inquests, though
public, are legally prohibited from assessing responsibility of
RCMP officers. An inquest will likely occur many
months if not years after a death. An inquest still has not begun
in the case of Mr. St. Arnaud.
In early January
2006, CPC Vice-Chair Brooke McNabb upheld the RCMP's refusal to
investigate our complaints.
The BCCLA has
also written to Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day calling for
reform of the RCMP Act and
automatic civilian review in the case of civilian in-custody/in-pursuit
deaths or serious injury resulting from
interaction with the RCMP. The BCCLA had also written RCMP Commission
Zaccardelli with the same
request but his representatives have declined.
BCCLA's letters
to:
CPC
Chair Kennedy
Stockwell Day
