RCMP Watch

Chad Skelton (Canwest News Service) - More than half of all RCMP in-custody deaths during the past five years occurred in B.C. despite the fact only a third of the force’s officers work here, an internal report prepared by the Mounties has found.

The report, obtained by The Vancouver Sun through the Access to Information Act, provides a detailed analysis of all 80 RCMP in-custody deaths between 2002 and 2006, including police shootings.

According to the report, the number of deaths in each province roughly corresponds with the number of officers stationed there, with one notable exception: B.C.

“‘E’ Division [B.C.] reported 56% of RCMP in-custody deaths, which is higher than would be anticipated based on its member population [33% of RCMP members],” the report states.

The report, which was completed in December, 2007, provides no explanation for why B.C.’s death rate is higher.

RCMP spokeswoman Sergeant Sylvie Tremblay said one reason for B.C.’s high death rate may be that Mounties here police more large cities than in other parts of the country.

“The type of police work in B.C. is heavily urban-focused, compared to the predominantly rural policing that goes on in the other provinces in RCMP jurisdiction,” Sgt. Tremblay wrote in an e-mail. “Crime is … more pronounced in urban centres than in rural areas.”

However, Sgt. Tremblay was unable to provide any statistics to indicate whether in-custody deaths in B.C. are any more common in urban areas .

The Mounties have been involved in a number of high-profile in-custody deaths in B.C. during the past few years.

Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski died shortly after being Tasered by RCMP officers at the Vancouver airport on Oct. 14, 2007.

Ian Bush, a 22-year-old mill worker, was shot in the back of the head by Houston, B.C., RCMP Constable. Paul Koester at the detachment on Oct. 29, 2005, after Bush was arrested with an open beer outside the town’s arena.

And Kevin St. Arnaud, an unarmed drugstore robbery suspect, was shot three times by RCMP Const. Ryan Sheremetta in Vanderhoof, B.C., on Dec. 19, 2004.

None of the officers involved in the deaths have been criminally charged.

The report says the RCMP is doing what it can to reduce in-custody deaths. But it argues that its officers are not to blame for those who die in custody.