Commission For Complaints Against the RCMP Releases Annual Report

By 250 News

The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC)  has released its 2008-2009 annual report.

The report notes that:

• Public complaints received by the CPC against RCMP members increased by 34.5%.
• The CPC anticipates releasing its final report on the Robert Dziekanski Taser incident no later than Labour Day.
• The CPC Report on police investigating police will be released in the coming weeks.

The goal of the CPC is to ensure that RCMP members are held to the highest standard of accountability in the conduct of their duties. Key to this objective is ensuring that Canadians are made aware of, and given access to the impartial and independent complaints process administered by the CPC on their behalf.

This year's annual report outlines a number of seminal investigations and reports undertaken by the CPC to address critically important issues such as RCMP Taser use and policies, in-custody deaths, and the use of search and seizure as a preventative security measure at large civic events.

In its June 2008 Taser Use Report (2001-2007), the CPC identified 22 recommendations which required immediate implementation by the RCMP on Taser use policies, training and reporting. The RCMP has made significant progress and is working closely with CPC. Of note, 2008 Taser use by the RCMP dropped significantly compared to prior years. The CPC still has remaining concerns about Taser use, however.

The CPC is conducting an investigation into all in-custody deaths up to February 2009 where the use of Taser by a RCMP member was involved. The CPC has completed its report on RCMP criminal investigations into the conduct of RCMP members (Police investigating Police). The report was submitted to the RCMP Commissioner in late May 2009. The report will be publically released in the coming weeks.

The CPC is nearing completion of its investigation into the high-profile Robert Dziekanski Taser incident. The initial report, along with its findings and recommendations, will be formally submitted to the Minister of Public Safety and RCMP Commissioner in the coming weeks. The CPC anticipates releasing the final report no later than Labour Day.

2008-2009 was an unprecedented year of activity for the CPC. The number of public complaints against the RCMP received by CPC increased by 34.5% compared to the year prior. Enquiries, Alternative Dispute Resolutions and Public Complaints handled by the CPC collectively rose by 20%.

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