The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George won't be acting on the top recommendation coming out the coroner’s inquest into the police shooting of John Robert Buehler on Sept. 17, 2014.
Buehler, 51, and his then-21-year-old daughter, Shanna Buehler, had been found squatting in a trapper's cabin near Kinbasket Lake about 120 kilometres south of Valemount, the coroner's inquest was told. The inquest was held in Prince George from July 15 to July 23, 2019.
The heavily-armed pair refused to leave by the cabin owner, the inquest heard, and then engaged in a standoff with police that eventually resulted in both being shot by police officers.
John Buehler died of his injuries, while Shanna Buehler survived and was issued a conditional discharge in November 2017 for her role in the standoff. Shanna was described as a victim of her abusive and controlling father.
In a phone call to Valemount RCMP prior to the incident, Buehler's sister, Theresa Hebert, called her brother a "ticking time bomb" who had a history of violence and believed he was a prophet of God.
The Buehler's were already known to police from a previous incident near Valemount earlier that year.
"On June 19, 2014, John Robert Buehler was staying in a travel trailer in a public recreational area near Valemount. His adult daughter was staying with him. Mr. Buehler had six German Shepherd dogs that he told people were trained to attack on his command," presiding coroner Donita Kuzma wrote in her verdict. "After he threatened people that his dogs would attack them, two RCMP officers attended. Four dogs rushed one of the police vehicles. One officer started to negotiate with Mr. Buehler. After approximately four hours, Mr. Buehler turned himself over to the officers. He was arrested and taken into custody."
The inquest jury's first recommendation was to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George to develop an animal control bylaw for threatening, aggressive or nuisance behaviour dogs.
"Evidence heard at the inquest indicated to the jury that the dogs added an additional level of complexity to the situation, as well as posed risk to both the public and law enforcement," presiding coroner Donita Kuzma wrote in her verdict. "An animal control bylaw that allowed for the dogs not to be returned to Mr. Buehler may have led to a different outcome."
In a letter to the regional district board dated May 27, 2020, B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe asked the board to consider the jury recommendation and respond within 60 days regarding what action the district planned to take.
In a report to the board, regional district administrator Jim Martin said Section 49 of the B.C. Community Charter already provides powers for animal control officers and peace officers to manage dangerous dogs.
"In the report... I fail to see any way that regional district bylaw enforcement action could have changed the outcome of this incident," director Dannielle Alan said.
Alan represents the Robson Valley-Canoe area, where the incident happened.
The district board passed a motion calling for district staff to reply with a letter, advising that peace officers already had authority under the Community Charter to deal with dangerous dogs.
In October 2016, the Independent Investigations Office cleared the RCMP of any wrongdoing in the case.
