Final Status Report

CPC/RCMP Independent Observer to Monitor Impartiality of Investigation into the Shooting Death of a Male in Buick Creek/Fort St. John, B.C.

Ottawa, June 4, 2010 – On September 26, 2009, the Fort St. John RCMP responded to a report of a man having allegedly forced a van containing his family off the road as it departed the family's residence. The group was able to drive away and seek refuge in a nearby residence. The Fort St. John RCMP eventually located the man at his residence, secured the area and undertook exhaustive efforts to communicate with the man via interpreters and a crisis negotiator over a period of several days.

In order to minimize further risk to the public and responding members, the RCMP North District Emergency Response Team (ERT) was deployed.

On September 30, 2009, the suspect, later identified as Valeri George, was seen exiting his residence and getting into a vehicle armed with a rifle. As Mr. George drove the vehicle down the drive towards the ERT members, the police engaged the vehicle utilizing lethal force and the suspect was shot. Emergency medical attention was provided almost immediately but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on information received, the CPC Chair, on October 1, 2009, requested that the CPC Observer be engaged to:

• Make an initial assessment as to the impartiality of the Major Crime Unit assigned to investigate this incident; and
• Monitor progress so as to ensure that any future issues as they relate to the impartiality of the investigation are identified and addressed.

The CPC Observer has completed an assessment as to the impartiality of the investigative team and concludes that there are no identified issues as they relate to questions of impartiality. Accordingly, the engagement of the CPC Observer with respect to this matter is now concluded.

However, the CPC will continue its review of the incident in accordance with the terms of the Chair-initiated complaint initiated on October 6, 2009, to assess:

1. whether the RCMP members or other persons appointed or employed under the authority of the RCMP Act involved in the events of September 26 to September 30, 2009, from the moment of initial contact through to the subsequent death of Mr. Valeri George complied with all appropriate training, policies, procedures, guidelines and statutory requirements relating to the use of force; and
2. whether the RCMP national, divisional and detachment-level policies, procedures and guidelines applicable to such an incident and to situations in which RCMP Emergency Response Teams are deployed are adequate.

More information on Chair-initiated complaints can be found at http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca.

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 Pilot Program can be found on the CPC website: www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca.

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For more information, please contact:
Kate McDerby
Communications
613-952-3729
kate.mcderby@cpc-cpp.gc.ca