The new Police Act ignores the Frank Paul  inquiry, official reports on the state of the police complaint process, and the rising tide of public mistrust following the high-profile deaths of Ian Bush, Kevin St. Arnaud, and Robert Dziekanski.  Under the new Police Act, the police will still investigate themselves for the deaths they cause.

Following the death of Robert Dziekanski, an overwhelming majority of British Columbians thought misconduct had occurred.  As the RCMP defended itself, misrepresented facts, and refused to accept even the smallest amount of blame, the erosion of public trust was unavoidable.  When the public is given a rare glimpse into the investigations of in-custody deaths, as has happened with the deaths of Frank Paul and Robert Dziekanski, those investigations are profoundly different than other homicide investigations.  It is often the case that the police attack the character of the deceased while defending the very person they are investigating, and officers involved in fatal encounters are not interviewed immediately, sometimes for months.

There is no reason to trust the police to self-investigate.  And our respect for the police is not diminished by demanding external investigations; on the contrary, when an investigation we trust clears the police of wrongdoing, it can only enhance public trust.  Everyone, including the police, are better off without self-investigation.  So why is there so much resistance?

Tags: Death In Custody

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