The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has launched a complaint against members of the RCMP’s Houston  detachment involved in the death of Ian Geoffrey Bush who died on October 29, 2005 under suspicious circumstances while in police custody.

The BCCLA has previously urged the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) to undertake  mandatory, automatic investigations of any deaths or serious injuries of individuals while in the custody of the RCMP. Currently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act does not mandate this requirement.

BCCLA President, Jason Gratl: “Civilian review of all in-custody deaths seems rather important in establishing and maintaining public confidence in the police. From that perspective, the policy of waiting for a watchdog group like ours to file a complaint is stubbornly daft. Perhaps the Complaints Commission should be granted funding appropriate to its mandate.”