News Release

CPC/RCMP Independent Observer to Monitor Impartiality of Investigation into the Police Involved Shooting Death of a Male in Nanaimo, B.C.

Ottawa, October 23, 2009 – The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) today announced it will employ the Independent Observer Program to monitor the impartiality of the RCMP investigation into events related to the police involved shooting death of a male in Nanaimo, B.C. on Friday, October 23, 2009.

The CPC observer will assess the impartiality and independence of the RCMP investigative process and participants during initial meetings and will receive regular case briefings throughout.

The Role of the Observer

The civilian Independent Observer assesses the impartiality of the RCMP team conducting the investigation. Factors that may be used to assess impartiality include the relative rank of the investigator or whether the member of the investigative team has ever:

• worked with or been stationed at the same detachment with any RCMP member who is the subject of the investigation;
• had a social relationship or social interaction with any RCMP member who is the subject of the investigation;
• attended training at Depot (troopmate) during the same period with any RCMP member who is the subject of the investigation; or
• been stationed or has worked at the detachment in which the investigation is taking place.

Additionally, the Independent Observer identifies any other factor that could affect the perception of impartiality as it relates to the investigative member participating in the investigation, such as comments made by the members of the investigative team to one another, to the Independent Observer or to any other person.

The IOP is aimed at enhancing public confidence in RCMP-led investigations into its own members with respect to the impartiality of the RCMP team conducting the investigation.

More information on the Independent Observer Program along with the IOP protocol can be found on the CPC website: http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca.

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For more information, please contact:
Nelson Kalil
Manager, Communications
613-952-2452
nelson.kalil@cpc-cpp.gc.ca