Surrey, B.C.- At a news conference in Surrey this morning, the Independent Investigations Office, was officially opened .

 

This is the fourth independent investigative office in Canada and Chief Civilian Director Richard Rosenthal says his team is “on call” and is prepared to take on those cases . “We have four investigative teams that are staffed with investigators both former police officers and civilians, ready to be deployed to any part of this province as soon as we have been notified an incident falls within our mandate.”

 

The investigative team represents about a 50-50 split on former police officers and civilians with investigative experience.

 

Rosenthal says he expects they will investigate about 100 cases a year. The cases must be those which have resulted in serious harm or death and  will not include any historic  cases, rather,  must they must have  occurred from  today forward. He says he expects his office will be “over notified” of incidents, as any incident with a reportable injury must be directed to his team. At that point,   it will be determined if the case falls within the IIO’s mandate and jurisdiction.

 

Rosenthal says his goal is to provide “fair, thorough, competent  investigations completed in a timely manner and public transparency through public reporting. It is those goals that I am dedicated that everyone in this office is dedicated to”. 

 

He says if his team’s investigation leads him to believe an officer has committed a criminal act, he will send the report to Crown for charges. It will be then up to Crown to make the decision on whether charges are laid.   He says if the officer is exonerated he will release a public report  explaining why that conclusion was reached.

 

“We really look forward to getting the job done regardless of how hard it may be, or how many eyes may be upon us, we will get the job done fairly and competently and we will do our best for the people of this province.”

 

The IIO has a budget of $9.3 million this year, and $10.1 million in each of the next two.

 

Minister Bond repeated a comment from Justice Braidwood who said “The most important weapon in the arsenal of Police is public support.”   She says the public has a right and expectation that when there are incidents involving police which result in serious harm or death, an investigation into that incident is done promptly, impartially and objectively by independent investigators who will examine all the facts and reached reasoned conclusions.