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Province defends its methods of investigating police operations
Some media reports misleading: spokesperson
by Michelle
Lalonde
Source: Montreal Gazette September 1, 2007
Source: Montreal Gazette September 1, 2007
Quebec's Public Security Department yesterday defended its procedures for investigating deaths and severe injuries that occur during police operations, saying media reports about some recent incidents have spread "misunderstanding." Liette Larrivée, assistant director of police matters with Quebec's Public Security Department, insisted a briefing with reporters yesterday was not related to any one case. But she acknowledged recent media coverage had prompted the department to call the session.
"We realized there is a lot of misunderstanding of the ministerial policy regarding these kinds of incidents," she said.
One of those incidents involved Mohamed Anas Bennis, who was shot to death by a Montreal police officer in December 2005. His family has made several well-publicized appeals in recent months for access to a report by Quebec City police investigating the shooting.
Along with representatives from the Sûreté du Québec and Montreal police, Larrivée reviewed the objectives of the department's investigative policy and the legal constraints that prevent the department from making investigative reports public.
In Quebec, when a police officer is involved in an incident in which someone is shot, killed or severely injured, the police force involved must notify the public security minister. Another police force - either the SQ, Montreal police or Quebec City police - is designated to investigate.
Reports from these investigations are turned over to the crown prosecutor's office, the coroner and the police ethics commission, if there has been a complaint about police conduct to that commission. They are not made public.
Information in these reports must remain confidential for a host of legal reasons, Larrivée noted. Quebec law forbids a public institution, like the police, from releasing information that would, for example, reveal investigative methods, identify confidential sources, jeopardize someone's safety, cause prejudice to anyone or impair a person's right to a fair hearing.
"This does not mean investigators cannot meet with the family of a victim and reply to questions," Larrivée said.
Asked whether the Public Security Department is reviewing its procedures with a view to either becoming less secretive or dealing with public concerns about bias, Larrivée said no.
Jocelyn Latulippe of the SQ supported the policy of having police investigate police.
"Homicide investigations demand a certain level of expertise that can be found only in other police services," Latulippe said.
Statistics released yesterday by the Public Security Department show that 55 people have been killed during police operations in Quebec since 2005. Another 29 were severely injured. All these incidents were investigated.
The Public Security Department does not keep statistics on how many of these investigations resulted in charges against police officers, Larrivée said.
Montreal police have been involved in 14 incidents in which someone was shot, severely injured or killed since 2005.