IIO Update to Officer Involved Shooting in Prince George

INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office of BC
For Immediate Release
Sept. 12, 2012

IIO Update to Officer Involved Shooting in Prince George

SURREY – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) confirms that investigators remain on the ground in Prince George in response to an officer involved shooting that took place on Sept. 10, 2012.

At 19:36 hours (7:36 p.m.), Sept. 10, 2012, the IIO was notified of the incident by RCMP in Prince George.  The on-duty shooting involved the RCMP Emergency Response Team who had been deployed in response to a serious incident. One person was deceased at the scene. No injuries to police were reported.

IIO personnel were deployed within hours of notification and were at the scene by 00:12 hours (12:12 a.m.) Sept. 11, 2012.

Nine IIO staff are in the area conducting investigative activities such as scene examination, interviews and the collection of evidence. It is expected they will remain in Prince George until later this week.

During the course of the investigation, the IIO will continue to work collaboratively with the other involved jurisdictions, including the BC Coroners Service, who have the responsibility of confirming the identity of the deceased and providing any other information related to their investigation.

The IIO can confirm that the involved police service (RCMP) are respecting and co-operating with the terms laid out in the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by the Chief Civilian Director and B.C.’s police services in July 2012.

Once the IIO investigation is completed, the Chief Civilian Director will determine if he believes an offence may have taken place. If yes, he will refer the case to Crown counsel. If there is no report made to Crown counsel, the Chief Civilian Director will release a public report relating to the IIO investigation and his findings. The intent behind releasing this type of public report is that any reasonable member of the public reading the report would understand why the Chief Civilian Director did not make a report to Crown counsel.

As set by the Chief Civilian Director, the IIO’s goals are to conduct fair, unbiased, timely, thorough and competent investigations and ensure transparency through public reporting.

Quick Facts:

  • The IIO was established under amendments to B.C.’s Police Act passed by the Legislature in 2011.
  • To ensure there is no perception of bias, the law provides that the Chief Civilian Director cannot be a person who is a current or former member of a police force or RCMP. No investigator may be appointed who has been a member of a police force in B.C. within the past five years.
  • The IIO has moved into the new facility in Surrey and is expected to have 60 full-time staff, and its  investigative teams will be deployed across the province as required.
  • The IIO investigators, both civilians and former police officers, have completed significant training at the Justice Institute of BC and the Canadian Police College.
  • On or before Jan. 1, 2015, a special committee of the legislature will review the progress made towards the IIO being staffed solely with civilians who have never been police officers.

Learn More:

Independent Investigations Office website: http://www.iiobc.ca/

Contact:

Owen Court
Senior Manager, Strategic Projects and Public Engagement
Independent Investigations Office of BC
604 788-1600

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