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.
