B.C. seeks civilian for police oversight office

July 19, 2011
Canadian Press/CBC

The B.C. government is looking for a civilian to head its much-anticipated Independent Investigations Office that will look into all allegations against police in the province.

The director will oversee the new office, which will conduct investigations into serious injuries or deaths involving municipal police officers or members of the RCMP.

The chief civilian director position is a five-year order-in-council appointment, with the possibility of a second five-year appointment.

The independent office was one of the key recommendations from retired judge Thomas Braidwood's report into the October 2007 death of Robert Dziekanski, who died after being stunned by an RCMP Taser at Vancouver's airport.

The Independent Investigations Office will take over such investigations from police forces, who currently are called in when deaths or injuries involve members of other forces.

Under the legislation, the director must be a civilian who has never worked as a police officer.

Attorney General Barry Penner said the office should be up and running by the end of the year.

Applications will be accepted until August 16.