Improve transparent oversight of serious incidents
The RCMP is formalizing cooperation protocols with police oversight bodies to ensure that serious incidents (including death, assault, injury or serious misconduct) involving on-and off-duty police officers are referred to independent agencies for rigorous and objective investigations and enhanced transparency.
The RCMP is updating the operational policy on the investigation of RCMP employees involved in serious incidents.
Why it matters
Ensuring transparent oversight and review following a serious incident is essential in maintaining public, community, partner, and government confidence in the RCMP.
The goal is to ensure that investigations of RCMP employees involved in serious incidents are transparent and fair. The updated policy will provide greater accountability for the RCMP's involvement in these investigations.
Latest
Update
The RCMP has revised and created a suite of operational policies on the transparent oversight of serious incidents. The policies include guidance on: conducting an investigation or review of a serious incident involving RCMP employees, the investigation of outside agencies by RCMP personnel, the responsibility of regular members to report a serious incident, and direction on conducting an Independent Officer Review.
Internal stakeholder consultations took place in 2022, 2023, and 2024. These consultations included all RCMP divisions in the provinces and territories, Federal Policing, the Professional Responsibility Sector, Operational Readiness and Response, Vulnerable Persons Unit, National Public Complaints Directorate, Professional Ethics Office, National Conduct Management Section, National Independent Officer Review Team, National Police Intervention Unit, National Reintegration Program, Labour Relations, and RCMP Legal Services.
All four policies will be finalized and updated in the Operational Manual in 2024.
May 2022
Update
The RCMP has reviewed the operational policy on the investigation of RCMP employees involved in serious incidents. The revised policy will provide additional guidance on how the RCMP supports people in various roles in the process, including observers, designated contact members and members conducting an independent review when that function is delegated to an RCMP officer in another jurisdiction.
The RCMP aims to have this policy updated in the Operational Manual by December 2022.
Internal stakeholder consultations have begun and will be completed in the fall of 2022. These sessions will include all RCMP divisions in the provinces and territories, the Professional Responsibility Sector, Labour Relations, and RCMP Legal Services.
Jan 2022
Update
The RCMP has successfully completed the policy review process for the Operational Policy on the investigation of RCMP employees involved in serious incidents.
Work is nearly complete on the first draft of the policy revision, including the creation of appendices to give enhanced structure, clarity and support. The revised policy will provide additional guidance on how the RCMP supports persons engaged in the observer role, designated contact members, and members conducting independent review when that function is delegated to an outside RCMP officer.
The RCMP aims to have the revised policy published by October, 2022. The next step will be internal stakeholder consultation, including: all RCMP divisions in the provinces and territories, the Professional Responsibility Section, Labour Relations, and RCMP Legal Services; starting in late fall 2021.
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