B.C. public showing increased interest in police oversight
Protests over Floyd’s death put focus on use-of-force incidents in province
Public interest in oversight of police in B.C. by the Independent Investigations Office has surged recently but the number of investigations is similar to last year, the agency says.
In the past week, the civilian oversight agency launched seven investigations into cases involving police in which someone was badly hurt or killed.
It was a large number of cases for a week, but not unprecedented, said Ronald MacDonald, chief civilian director of the IIO.
Since the fiscal year started on April 1, the IIO has received 50 incident notifications, including 38 that led to investigations; 12 didn’t meet the mandate for investigation. The newest is still being assessed. That number is similar to 2019-20, when the agency launched 36 investigations in the same period.
While the number of investigations hasn’t risen much since last year, attention to them has, MacDonald said. Following the death of George Floyd in the U.S., he has been receiving far more requests for interviews.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Since then, there have been protests across the U.S. over police brutality against black Americans.
“(There’s) absolutely no question that the media has paid more attention to the issues of oversight and police use of force, obviously attributable to the media surrounding the George Floyd situation,” MacDonald said.
On Thursday, the IIO announced it was investigating the death of a man in Kelowna after RCMP received a report June 1 of a single-vehicle collision. A man believed to be the driver was found dead nearby. Hours earlier, an officer went to the scene but not see a vehicle or crash site and took no further action. “The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, the officers’ actions or inaction may have played in the death of the man, including if the search location was the same as the collision and whether the man could have been saved, given his injuries,” the IIO said.
On Wednesday, the IIO said it was investigating the death of a man arrested by RCMP officers in Kitimat on Saturday. “While in custody, the man fell a number of times and was transported to hospital … before being released on the morning of May 31,” an IIO statement said. Later that day, after being released, the man fell again while drunk and was taken to hospital overnight. He died on June 1, the statement read.
On Monday, the IIO reported it was investigating an incident in Williams Lake in which an intoxicated man in emotional distress was seriously injured after fleeing from police Sunday night on a motorcycle that ended up having “an interaction” with a police vehicle.
The IIO on Sunday reported an investigation into an arrest Friday night in Prince Rupert. RCMP responded to a call about an intoxicated man and woman sitting near the waterfront. “Officers advised the woman she was under arrest and a struggle ensued,” the IIO stated. “The woman then allegedly jumped down a drop nearby, falling approximately 20 feet.” She was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Also on Sunday, the IIO reported it was investigating the Delta police response to a report of a taxi being stolen from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. “Officers quickly located the man, who fled towards the ferry causeway beach. The man reportedly produced weapons and was taken into custody,” the IIO reported. “During the course of his arrest, the man suffered serious injuries.”
On Friday, the IIO said it was investigating a death in Richmond on May 28. RCMP were called to a fight near a business. After handcuffing a man, officers realized he was in medical distress, the IIO said. He was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to hospital.
On Thursday, the IIO reported it was investigating the police response to a report of a man who was alleged to have a weapon in a hotel room in Abbotsford on May 21. “During the course of his arrest, the affected person sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries.”