Commission launches complaint into RCMP TASER use on 11-year-old in Prince George, BC

Ian McPhail Q.C., Interim Chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (Commission), has initiated a complaint into the conduct of RCMP members involved in the tasering of an 11-year-old boy in Prince George, British Columbia, on April 7, 2011. The complaint also addresses the adequacy of the actions taken by the RCMP in response to the incident.

This complaint has been launched with full appreciation that the West Vancouver Police Department is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the incident.

The Chair-initiated complaint will look at RCMP member conduct related to this case and whether it complied with policies, procedures, training and statutory requirements related to the use of force.

The Commission had been monitoring the case since the incident occurred and felt it necessary to initiate its own complaint at this time. The Commission has done extensive work on RCMP taser use over the past few years–including individual high-profile investigations and reviews of Force-wide use. Many of the Commission's recommendations have been adopted by the RCMP, culminating in a new RCMP taser use policy which was announced in April 2010.

For more information, please contact:
Jamie Robertson
Communications
613-952-3738
jamie.robertson@cpc-cpp.gc.ca