OTTAWA, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police should not investigate cases where its officers are involved in deaths, a watchdog said Tuesday.
Paul Kennedy, head of the Commission for Public Complaint Against the RCMP, released a report that recommended all death investigations should be transferred to other police agencies or provincial prosecutors, Canwest News Service reported. He also recommended an observer from his agency be involved in all misconduct investigations.
Kennedy reviewed 28 investigations. He found that in one-quarter an investigating officer knew the officer whose conduct was being scrutinized, the news service said.
He found allegedly inappropriate responses in more than half the cases. In addition to potential conflicts of interest, he found instances where the RCMP allegedly did not investigate as vigorously as it should have.
"Police are held to higher account by the very nature of the work they do," the report said. "Like other professionals that directly impact the safety and welfare of those they serve, there is a public expectation requiring that a higher standard of behavior be upheld."
