04-16 Death in Police Custody

Question 1

In accord with ___________________________ the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) mandate is invoked whenever an in-custody death occurs

a) The Community Policing Safety Act (Formerly the PSA)

b) The Criminal Code of Canada

c) The Special Investigations Unit Act

d) both b and c

Answer 1

c) The Special Investigations Unit Act

Question 2

The SIU and Homicide Unit with conduct seperate investigations into a death in police custody. The Homicide investigation will begin when the SIU investigation has completed

True or False

Answer 2

False, the SIU and Homicide Unit will conduct parallel investigations when there is a death in police custody.

Question 3

The SIU uses the expertise of FIS when investigating a death in police custody

True or False

Answer 3

False, the SIU and FIS run parallel forensic investigations and the SIU has their own forensic investigators

Question 4

The 3 main roles of a police officer upon becoming aware of a death in police custody are to

a) protect the scene and all evidence, immediately request the attendance of a supervisor, notify the OIC, take statements

b) protect the scene and all evidence, immediately request the attendance of a supervisor, notify the SIU liaison

c) protect the scene and all evidence, immediately request the attendance of a supervisor, notify the OIC

d) protect the scene and all evidence, immediately request the attendance of a supervisor

Answer 4

c) protect the scene and all evidence, immediately request the attendance of a supervisor, notify the OIC

Question 5

Whos duty is it to notify the SIU upon the death of a prisoner in custody

a) OIC

b) TPOC

c) Senior Duty Officer

d) SIU Liaison Officer

e) c and/or d

Answer 5

e) c or d

Question 6

The SIU may cause an investigation to be conducted only if the member was on duty at the time

True of False

Answer 6

False, the SIU may cause an investigation to be conducted if the official was on duty or if the official was off-duty but engaged in the investigation, pursuit, detention or arrest of a person otherwise exercised powers of a police officer, or if the incident involved equipment or other property issued to them