Chair-Initiated Complaint and Public Interest Investigation into the RCMP’s investigation of the death of Colten Boushie

On August 9, 2016, Colten Boushie was shot and killed outside Biggar, Saskatchewan, on a rural farm property. As Acting Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ("the Commission"), I am invoking subsection 45.59(1) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act ("the RCMP Act") to initiate a complaint into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's ("the RCMP") investigation of the death of Mr. Boushie and events that followed, including the next of kin notification, the search of Debbie Baptiste's residence, and the dissemination of media releases.

I am further invoking subsection 45.66(1) of the RCMP Act to direct that the Commission undertake a public interest investigation into this matter. The investigation will determine:

1. Whether RCMP members or other persons appointed or employed under Part I of the RCMP Act involved in this matter conducted a reasonable investigation into the death of Mr. Boushie;
2. Whether the actions taken by the RCMP in response to this matter were taken in accordance with all applicable RCMP training, policies, procedures, guidelines, and statutory requirements;
3. Whether the relevant RCMP national, divisional, and detachment-level training, policies, procedures, and guidelines are reasonable; and
4. Whether the conduct of RCMP members or other persons appointed or employed under Part I of the RCMP Act involved in this matter amounted to discrimination on the basis of race or perceived race.

Public Complaint of Alvin Baptiste

On December 16, 2016, Alvin Baptiste filed a complaint with the RCMP regarding this same matter. On January 2, 2018, Mr. Baptiste exercised his right under subsection 45.7(1) of the RCMP Act to refer the complaint to the Commission for review. The Commission's review of Mr. Baptiste's complaint (File No. 2017-0363) is ongoing. As part of that review, the Commission has decided to further investigate Mr. Baptiste's complaint under paragraph 45.71(3)(c) of the RCMP Act.