Overview

• The Independent Investigations Office report found no legal proof of racism in the 2022 Williams Lake incident but flagged the scale of force used during a mental health crisis.
• A report of an armed Indigenous man prompted a 25-officer emergency response that included tear gas before the individual died by suicide.
• Family members and community leaders expressed significant concerns about excessive force and alleged ongoing discrimination by the Williams Lake RCMP.
• The watchdog concluded the case did not meet the threshold for criminal charges yet identified shortcomings in policy, training and crisis intervention procedures.
• Chief civilian director Jessica Berglund has referred the file to the RCMP and Civilian Review and Complaints Commission to evaluate necessary reforms in policing protocols.