Cops shouldn't investigate cops

All possible arguments against imposing a massive increase in the degree of civilian oversight and more independent investigation of the police have been consigned to the dustbin of history.

The argument is over. Finished. Shut up already.


The Province (13 March 2009) - Alone and Cold is the title of Commissioner William Davies’ scathing report detailing how Vancouver police and the justice system failed Frank Paul, who died after police dumped him soaking wet in an alley in 1998. “I’ve been very critical of some of the police officers that did handle Frank Paul and of the police investigating themselves ... and the manner in which they conducted their inquiry” into both internal discipline charges and possible criminal charges against the officers, Davies said. ...

Davies, handing out his report just across the hall from where the Braidwood inquiry is being conducted into the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, acknowledged “some of the issues we dealt with have arisen at the Braidwood inquiry.” ...

A key issue, noted Davies, is “the public has lost confidence in the fact the police are investigating themselves. ... I’ve recommended far-reaching changes,” said Davies, including a citizen investigation of all police-related deaths. ...

Paul, a New Brunswick Mi'kmaq, was dumped in a east side Vancouver alley in December 1998 after Sgt. Russell Sanderson refused to admit him to the police drunk tank or take him to detox and instructed a junior officer to “breach” Paul. Paul died of hypothermia and his New Brunswick family was told he died in a hit-and-run accident. ...

Davies noted the VPD failed to properly investigate the death and the B.C. Coroners Service failed to properly notify Paul’s family. Davies recommends B.C. “develop a civilian-based criminal investigation model for the investigation of police-related deaths occurring in the municipalities policed by the 11 municipal police departments.” ...

Davies said “the independent investigation office” would be led by a civilian director, but investigators would have the status of police officers and, once advised of a police-related death, would take charge of the scene and become the lead investigative agency. “The director would recommend to the Criminal Justice Branch whether criminal charges should be laid and, if so, which charges involving which officer or officers.” ...

“What this inquiry’s review has revealed is systemic flaws in the manner in which the Vancouver Police Department conducted criminal investigations of police-related deaths at that time, which continue today. These systemic flaws are grounded in conflict of interest — the police investigating themselves. I am persuaded that nothing short of a wholesale restructuring of such investigations would suffice.” ...

[LINK]


These are the exact-same systematic flaws that are a major factor in the taser-issue...

...as so clearly demonstrated by the recent RCMP testimony at the Braidwood Inquiry.


Given these two clear-cut examples where the truth was only revealed (years later) because some video evidence just happened to be available, how many other cases have been successfully covered-up over the years?

If you're strolling past a haystack and just so happen to spot two needles, do you really think that the haystack contains only two needles?


Now - in your imagination - combine these sorts of systematic flaws with tasers. Close your eyes. What do you see?