The Braidwood hearing and study commission was a public inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski. Mr. Dziekanski died after being tasered five times by an RCMP constable at the Vancouver International Airport in 2007. At the inquiry, which included the testimony of 91 witnesses over 61 days, the BCCLA argued that the use of force by RCMP officers was grossly excessive, unreasonable and unjustified. The BCCLA also submitted that the practice of police investigating police-related deaths needed to be brought to an end. The Commissioner’s report, released on June 18, 2010, agreed with the BCCLA on both points. The Commissioner found that the constable was not justified in deploying the taser and recommended that BC establish a civilian-based body to investigate police related deaths.

Later that same day BC Solicitor General Mike De Jong announced that the province would in fact be establishing a new civilian investigation body. This represented a major victory for the BCCLA who have been advocating for an end to police investigating police for at least fifteen years.

The BCCLA was represented by Grace Pastine, BCCLA Litigation Director.

 Submission to the Braidwood Inquiry Study Commission into Conducted Energy Weapons