By Dan Marshall

IIO sends seven member team after fatal shooting

Jun 15, 2016 | 2:15 PM

A team of Lower Mainland investigators are in Nanaimo to look into Tuesday’s fatal police-involved shooting.

Aidan Buckley with the Independent Investigations Office says they will be gathering evidence and conducting interviews with civilians and the RCMP.

“We deployed seven investigators and the reason why we would deploy that many, is we like to front load our investigation in incidents like this,” said Buckley.

“Essentially it’s to ensure that we secure as much civilian witness testimony as possible.  There may be people there who would have witnessed the incident who may not necessarily be there tomorrow or the following day.”

During the investigation the IIO will put the officers involved into two categories.

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Witness officers are compelled to talk to investigators while an officer who fired a weapon would not be.

In cases like this Buckley says there is no clear timeline.

“It’s important to note that the IIO does not lay charges.  We send an entire investigative file to the Crown if it’s concluded that an officer may have committed an offense.  Should it be found that there was no offense then our Chief Civilian Director will release a public report which essentially exonerates the officer.”

The Independent Investigations Office was called to Nanaimo on Tuesday after a man alleged to have been carrying a knife was involved in an “encounter” with a Nanaimo RCMP officer. He was shot and later died.

Buckley urges witnesses to contact the IIO by calling 1-855-446-8477.