Independent Observer Program
In March 2007, the Commission implemented an innovative pilot project that assigned Commission staff to observe and assess the impartiality of the investigations conducted by the RCMP's division in British Columbia ("E" Division) involving high-profile and serious incidents such as in-custody deaths.
In conjunction with the RCMP's Office of Investigative Standards and Practices in British Columbia, the Independent Observer Pilot Project sought to address the public's concerns about the impartiality of RCMP investigations into incidents where the actions of RCMP members had resulted in serious injury or death and for other investigations that are high profile and sensitive in nature.
The project was modeled on the Public Safety Cooperation Protocol signed in 2005 between the RCMP and the Assembly of First Nations that commits the parties to work cooperatively to resolve disputes between the RCMP and First Nation peoples.
On September 9, 2008, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Independent Observer Pilot Project, the CPC and the RCMP formalized the Independent Observer Program (IOP) in the RCMP's Division in British Columbia ("E" Division).
The CPC Independent Observer Program assesses the impartiality of the RCMP investigations in these cases using the following criteria:
- Line Management
- Appropriate Level of Response
- Timeliness of the Response
- Conduct
It should be noted that it is not the goal of the CPC Independent Observer to assess the adequacy of the RCMP's investigation or RCMP policies.
An independent audit of the CPC / RCMP Independent Observer Pilot Program was conducted in June 2008 and the full report is available here.
Other jurisdictions with Independent Observer programs include: