The president of the National Police Federation is criticizing what he calls “unacceptable” delays in police oversight investigations, following a recent referral by BC’s Independent Investigations Office in a 2021 Prince George police shooting.
“Once again, a case under investigation by the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. has stretched over four years – a length of time that is simply unacceptable to our Members and to all British Columbians,” Brian Sauvé, president and CEO of the NPF, said in a statement Friday, Aug. 1.
The case stems from a May 31, 2021 incident in Prince George where an RCMP traffic stop near Victoria Street and 15th Avenue escalated into a police shooting. A man was seriously injured and taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The IIO said this week it has concluded its investigation and found reasonable grounds to believe a Prince George RCMP officer may have committed an offence in connection with the use of a firearm. The matter has now been referred to the BC Prosecution Service, which will decide whether charges are warranted.
But Sauvé says the years-long delay has unfairly harmed the officer involved and eroded public trust.
“Despite announcing their decision to refer this case to Crown Counsel, the IIO has also refused to release any meaningful details to the public,” Sauvé said. “This vilifies our member who risks being presumed guilty in the court of public opinion long before any charge approval decision is made.”
The IIO said further details are being withheld to avoid prejudicing any future prosecution.
Sauvé is calling on the province to address what he describes as “systemic failures” in oversight investigations, including delays, lack of transparency, and insufficient resources.
“Our members deserve better. The public deserves better,” he said. “We are calling on the Province of BC to address these systemic failures, starting with timely investigations, fair public communication, and proper resourcing of oversight bodies.”
The NPF represents approximately 20,000 RCMP members across Canada. Sauvé emphasized that use-of-force by police remains rare, with fewer than 0.1 per cent of nearly three million annual RCMP service calls involving any force.
The BC Prosecution Service has not indicated how long its review of the IIO’s findings may take.
