Police cleared in death of suspended Surrey, B.C., officer

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

Police have been cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with the death of a suspended Surrey Police Service (SPS) officer earlier this year, the provincialoversight agency says.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) said Tuesday its team found police actions did not contribute to the officer's death at an indoor gun range in Langley, B.C., on Feb. 8.

RCMP had been called to the range near the intersection of 98 Avenue and 201 Street to respond to reports of a man "in distress."

"Video footage and a civilian witness confirm that before officers could approach, the man sustained a self-inflicted injury," the IIO said in a statement.

"The man was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter. There is no evidence that the man knew police were in the building prior to his death."

At the time of his death, the SPS officer was under investigation for alleged breach of trust. He had been with the police service for three months before his arrest on Aug. 16.

He was suspended with pay one day later, the force said in an email.

IIOinvestigates allpolice-related cases resulting in serious harm or death, whether or not there areallegations officers did something wrong.

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