Protecteur du citoyen reiterates the importance of implementing an office for independent police investigations as soon as possible

  • December 17, 2013
Corps

The report of the Coroner's public inquiry into the death of Fredy Villanueva was tabled in Montréal in 2008. On that occasion, the Protecteur du citoyen recalled the necessity of an independent investigation bureau that could fully shed light on incidents involving police officers that resulted in serious injury or death for civilians. Seven months after the Act to amend the Police Act for independent investigations received assent, the draft regulation allowing the establishment of the independent body has not yet been published, said the Ombudsperson, Raymonde Saint-Germain. "In addition to contributing to restore public trust, the establishment of this independent bureau would avoid the costs and delays inherent in holding public inquiries, such as the one that followed the Villanueva case." This having been said, the Ombudsperson will not take a position on the contents of this report. For more information : The Québec Investigative Procedure for Incidents Involving Police Officers: The Protecteur du citoyen recommends major changes to the framework, practices, and monitoring of investigations - February 2010
Protecteur du citoyen's Report on The Québec Investigative Procedure for Incidents Involving Police Officers (PDF, 3,32 Mo)- February 2010