Can the Independent Investigations Office prevent deaths at hands of police?

Sep 19, 2012 at 2:51 pm
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Welcome to B.C., touted as the “Best Place on Earth”, unless you don’t speak English and become frustrated at YVR (Robert Dziekanski), you’re drinking in public (Ian Bush), you’re Native (Frank Paul), you’re involved in a domestic issue (Alvin Wright), or you have mental health issues (Greg Matters, Paul Boyd) [“News for Youse, September 11, web-only]… Then, we suggest you stay far, far away because history clearly shows our police officers end up killing you!

Let’s see if the newly opened, $10-million-a-year “Independent Investigations Office” will actually bring accountability to this province’s police forces, justice for the families of those citizens senselessly killed by officers, and possibly even restore confidence and trust in our law-enforcement agencies. Perhaps proper training in crisis management, mental health assessment, and just plain common sense might be what our police officers need in order to stop the killing of citizens in distress.

> Jeff Leggat / Duncan, B.C.

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Keep it Real
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:11 am
Mr Leggat oversimplifies a complex issue and clearly misses the point in favour of cop-bashing. Each of these incidents occurred because of a host of factors, not just the actions of the police. If we really want to reduce deaths, society will have to take more ownership over many issues, such as helping addicted, mentally ill and/or homeless people.

It is easy to scapegoat the cops but much more difficult to look at the deeper issues that we are all responsible for.
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mike55
Sep 23, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Did you know that new police agents get only one mental health assessment at the time of hiring and that's it. Police should receive an assessment once a year to weed out those who have become unstable bullies after a few years on the job.
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