This public inquiry is investigating the death of Mr. Frank Paul, a 47 year-old homeless Mi’kmaq man who died in an alley after being left there by police in December 1998. The BCCLA has participated in the inquiry. To date the inquiry has uncovered the significant role the Vancouver Police Department played in Mr. Paul’s tragic death. The inquiry has also highlighted systemic failures in the responses of various institutional agencies to his death. The BCCLA has proposed numerous changes to help prevent similar deaths and deficient investigations in the future, including the decriminalization of intoxication and civilian oversight of investigations into deaths that occur in police custody.