Coroner's jury recommends 12 steps after officer's suicide

A coroner's jury has made a dozen recommendations after investigating the suicide of Vancouver police Const. Nicole Chan, who died during a mental-health crisis after having relationships with two senior officers.

One recommendation is that all the department's officers receive mandatory yearly psychological checks regardless of rank or workplace location.

During seven days of testimony, the inquest heard that Chan died on Jan. 27, 2019, a day after she left the hospital.

The jury heard that before Chan's death she'd had relationships with two senior officers and accused one of them extorting her to continue a sexual relationship.

Evidence presented at the inquest included a victim impact letter from Chan about Sgt. David Van Patten, saying she was sexually assaulted by him in his apartment. The letter went to New Westminster police, who were investigating allegations against Van Patten, and the inquest heard the Crown later refused to charge the officer.

In the letter released during the inquest, Chan detailed her anguish that Van Patten had “taken advantage” of her in an “imbalance of power” while she was severely depressed. Chan said she was already suffering from mental health problems, but the sexual assault aggravated her condition, stalled her career and affected her ability to maintain relationships.

Chan, who was on stress leave, died three weeks after the letter was sent.

Van Patten was fired about a year after her death. It came following a Police Act investigation that concluded four allegations of discreditable conduct against him were substantiated.

Sgt. Corey Bech, who said he was a friend and mentor of Chan's, told the inquest on Monday that he believed the biggest systemic change the department could make would be mandatory mental health checkins for first responders.

Christine McLean, who works in human resources at the Vancouver Police Department, told the inquest Tuesday that officers in high-stress units, like homicide and sex crimes, who are exposed to “more disturbing” experiences have an annual mandatory session with a psychologist. However, she noted the visits are not mandatory for all officers.

“I think that there could be a benefit for police officers to have an annual high-stress debrief with a psychologist, regardless of what unit you're in,” she said.

The Chan family's lawyer, Gloria Ng, said in a statement that the family is very grateful for the jury's hard work and “very strongly worded recommendations.”

The family found the recommendations around psychological check-ins, the database for medical records, workplace training, and direct communication with doctors “very impactful,” Ng said.

Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer called the inquest “powerful, emotional, and thought-provoking.”