IIO Calls for Review of Its Handling of Matters Case
Prince George, B.C.- There will be an administrative review of the Independent Investigation Office’s investigation of the death of Gregory Matters.
Chief Civilian Director Richard Rosenthal says the review will be conducted by Mark Jette, a senior Vancouver Lawyer, who has been appointed as a “civilian monitor”.
Rosenthal says he received a complaint that was forwarded to him by the deputy attorney general. The complaint raises a number of questions with respect to the investigation.
"After my review of this complaint, I made the decision to appoint Mr. Mark Jette as a civilian monitor”says Rosenthal. “The appointment of a civilian monitor is a step contemplated by the Police Act to provide an extra measure of accountability where it is in the public interest to do so. Mr. Jette will have the mandate to conduct an independent administrative review related to the conduct of the investigation. It is not a re-opening of the investigation."
The review has been ordered under the Police Act, section 38.08.
Once completed, Jette’s report will be provided to the deputy attorney general and to the director of police services concurrent with its delivery to the chief civilian director.
This is the second time in four days that the IIO’s handling of the Matters case has come up. On Friday the IIO released the results of their supplemental review of the case. The review was initiated after a pathologist told a coroner’s inquest that Matters was shot in the back, contrary to what the agency had said in its initial report. However the IIO’s review states that the difference between the pathologist’s testimony and the agency’s report (which said he was shot in the chest) was caused by unclear language.
The investigation into the death of Greg Matters was the first case investigated by the IIO as the death happened on the same day the IIO officially opened its office.
Comments
So RCMP investigating themselves could be considered bias and will cover for their own according to IIO and BCCLA, are these people any different?
I know….
they are transparent…
which means you can see through them and not see what they are doing…they cover their butts well….typical government stuff.
How many more times will this Matters case be investigated?
I hope as many times as it takes to get the truth…..
” He was shot in the front”
” No he was shot in the back”
” I am sorry but your words are not clear”
On the other hand, the policeman may have aimed at his chest and fired but Mr. Matters may have been in the process of turning at that time.
The good old court of public opinion has rendered their verdict.
Yes that’s it, now you have it right. Don’t give a shit with that many guns and cops killing was wrong they can’t even say for sure id he had a hatchet or if he did what hand it was in.Just makes you sick the guy could have been taken down without a shot, they had hours to plan but no killing him easy. Just starting to happen all to often. What ever happened to the kid shot in Toronto they recommended charges but not a word, very sad.
Greg Matters had a long and well known history with police and making threats. Add a hatchet, standoff and a potenitally volatile situation, and bad things will happen.
Oh he had a hatchet ? Or was it that there was one close by?
How many of you were there when this incident occurred? How many of you attended the full inquest?
Then an independent review is done and it’s still not what everyone wants to hear. Now an independent review of the independent review.
Lots of armchair quarterbacks who have no idea what happened making comments way out of their bailiwick. I’m amazed at the human mind and how distorted folks can be.
Happens when get 5 different stories from the RCMP and other investigations. Happens when you try and cover up mistakes and one lie leads to other.
Check steph99
This whole thing just plain stinks.
grizzly: “Lots of armchair quarterbacks who have no idea what happened making comments way out of their bailiwick.”
Couldn’t agree more. The police have to deal with people most of the commenters would want nothing to do with.
People said they didn’t want police investigating police, so the IIO was formed. Now that the decisions are still being made that the resident cop-haters don’t like, what’s the next step?
IMO it takes more than someone not happy with the IIO results for them to order a review. It sounds like they might be questioning their process etc but it doesn’t sound like they have issues with their conclusion.
When half of the IIO is made up of ex-cops, of course people are going to question their independence.
Maybe if the other half were parents of those killed by cops, rightfully or wrongfully, then it would be perceived as fair.
They should just take regular government employees with no ties to anyone, and put them in this office.
You are most of the commenters JB. Probably why nobody even post. Your comments make are trashy and way to many.
Thanks for your opinion, chevy57, I will file it in the appropriate file.
Yup right beside your white sleeveless mussel shirt beside the empty beer can.
Hey Chevy, got anything to offer besides personal attacks?
And by the way, it’s spelled “Muscle”.
I find it funny when I’m being insulted and attacked by someone who can’t spell.
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