VICTORIA — The B.C. government took a crucial step Tuesday towards establishing an independent, civilian-led, office to investigate any serious incidents involving police.
Solicitor-general Shirley Bond introduced legislation Tuesday afternoon that, if passed, will create an Independent Investigations Office to oversee police.
A key recommendation from the Braidwood Commission, the new office will be led by a civilian who has never served as a police officer.
"It is critical that British Columbians have confidence in our police and that the police are accountable to them," Premier Christy Clark said in a press release.
"This legislation is an historic step for policing in B.C. and will strengthen public faith in the dedicated officers who work so hard to keep our families safe."
The new office will conduct criminal investigations into any police-related incidents involving death or serious injury. It will be able to investigate members of all B.C. police agencies, including municipal departments and the RCMP.
"Justice Braidwood said that the most important weapon in the arsenal of the police is public support," Bond said in a press release.
"The government agrees – as do the police in B.C., who have endorsed an independent agency to do these difficult investigations."
If the legislation passes, the new office is expected to be in place by the end of 2011.
The Braidwood inquiry looked into the 2007 death of Robert Dziekanski.
Dziekanski died after RCMP officers repeatedly shot him with a Taser at Vancouver International Airport, in an incident that garnered international attention when it was captured on video by another traveller.
jfowlie@vancouversun.com
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