IIO is Investigating the Death of One Man Near Shawnigan Lake (2024-292)
Case: 2024-292 Incident Date: December 18, 2024 Detachment: Central Saanich Police Department Agency: Municipal Agency: RCMP Location: Shawnigan Lake Detachment: Shawnigan Lake Detachment: Vancouver Police Department Detachment: Victoria Police Department Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Open - Investigation in ProgressINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is investigating the death of an off-duty police officer that occurred near Shawnigan Lake on December 18, 2024.
Information provided by the Vancouver Police Department states that in October, the VPD began investigating two members of the Central Saanich Police Service.
Both CSPS members were then arrested on December 17, 2024, with assistance from the Victoria Police Department and later released.
On December 18, 2024, the RCMP was called to the scene of a deceased man in a rural area near Shawnigan Lake. It was later determined the man was one of the one of the CSPS members that had been arrested and it appears the manner of death was self-inflicted.
The IIO was notified by the VPD the same day and has now commenced an investigation. Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details of what occurred leading up to and during the officer’s death.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information of the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
Background
The IIO is the Independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
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