Bush Case Sparks Private Members Bill
By 250 News
Monday, November 02, 2009 02:52 PM
Ottawa, Ontario - New Democrat Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen has introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons to end the current practice of RCMP investigating its own members when there has been a serious in custody incident.
Cullen’s bill calls for a special civilian investigations unit to probe such cases. Cullen pictures a unit modelled after the civilian team in place in Ontario. While members of other political parties have been receptive to his bill, Cullen says the Conservative government has refused to meet with him to talk about it.
He brought forth the bill in the wake of the Ian Bush case. The 22 year old died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head during a struggle with an arresting officer at the Houston B.C. detachment 4 years ago.
That incident , along with the shooting of Kevin St. Arnaud in Vanderhoof, and the death of Robert Dziekanski at the Vancouver airport, raised the issue of RCMP investigating themselves to a new level.
In all three cases, the officers involved were cleared of any wrong doing.
Ian’s mother, Linda Bush, was in Ottawa for the introduction of the bill. She says she is hopeful the bill will make the RCMP more accountable for its actions.
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Posted by: quesnel on November 2 2009 7:16 PM
Keep up the good work RCMP officers! The silent majority still support you and your efforts!