Final Status Report

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

Ottawa, June 29, 2010 – On April 27, 2010 at approximately 11 a.m., two Kamloops members of the RCMP in plainclothes observed a vehicle that piqued their interest and they began doing checks. The driver stopped the vehicle and entered a building. Based on the information received while conducting the checks, the members believed the vehicle was stolen. The suspect returned to the vehicle and the RCMP members pulled in behind with emergency equipment activated, then approached the vehicle on foot. The suspect reversed the vehicle, striking the police vehicle along with one of the plainclothes members.

One of the members then discharged his firearm at the suspect. The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle, striking a bus and two other vehicles before finally stopping. The male suspect was arrested shortly afterwards, taken to hospital for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left shoulder, and released into police custody.

Based on information received, the CPC Chair, on April 27, 2010, 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 currently 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.

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:

Kate McDerby
Manager, Communications
613-952-3729
kate.mcderby@cpc-cpp.gc.ca