Status Report

CPC/RCMP Independent Observer Pilot Project to Monitor Investigation of Shooting Death of Male in Vernon, B.C.

The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) and the RCMP today announced they will engage the Independent Observer Pilot Project to monitor the RCMP investigation into events related to the shooting death of a male in Vernon, B.C. on December 27, 2007.

The investigation is in the preliminary stages and the facts related to the incident have yet to be confirmed in their entirety. To date, information available indicates that officers in Vernon were executing an arrest warrant issued pursuant to the Mental Health Act. During the arrest the subject produced a knife and threatened the officers. Officers responded with verbal commands and the subject was tasered, with limited effect. As the event escalated, officers feared for their safety and responded with deadly force. The subject was shot and died as a result of his injuries. The RCMP Major Crime Unit has been deployed to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

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

The Independent Observer Pilot Project currently involves only the RCMP's Division in British Columbia ("E" Division), made up of 5,900 regular members and approximately 1,700 civilian members and public service employees.

More information on the Independent Observer Program can be found on the CPC website at 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