Vancouver police commits to implement all recommendations from Const. Nicole Chan inquest

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

The Vancouver Police Department says it's committed to implementing all recommendations addressed to the force from the inquest into Const. Nicole Chan's suicide.

The VPD hasoutlined how it will respond to the inquestina report that's due to be presented to the Vancouver Police Board on Thursday.

The 10-day inquest into Chan's death, which concluded Feb. 1, made eight recommendations to the police focused on training, recruiting and human resources matters.

Chan, 30, took her own life hours after being released from the Vancouver General Hospital access and assessment centre, where she was takenafter she was apprehended by VPD officers under the Mental Health Actas a suicide risk.

The inquest heard about Chan's history of mental health strugglesand that she had been intimately involved with two superior VPD officers.

Chan filed a complaint against one of those officers, Sgt. David Van Patten, alleging he had sexually assaulted and extorted her. Van Patten was Chan's supervisor in the force's human resources section.

Chanalleged in a WorkSafeBC claimthat Van Patten told her not to report their relationship, or that she was feeling poorly, to the VPD psychologist. She alleged Van Patten warned her he had access to her human resources file, including reports from the psychologist.

Training about rumours and gossip

The inquest recommended that mandatorypsychological clinical interviewsbe part of every potential police officer'srecruitment process.

The force says such interviews occur on a "case-by-case basis" but that it has other tests and practices in consultation with experts and will now implement atwo-test approach "with a structured follow-up psychological interview for police recruit candidates."

It also says it commits to seeking funding for annualpsychological check-ins to all sworn officers, in line with another recommendation.

Another recommendation is that the VPDupdate itsrespectful workplace policy to recognize rumours and gossip as examples ofunprofessional behaviour.

The police says that will be included when the policy is amendedlater this year.

The force estimates it will cost between $433,000 and $543,000 yearly to implement all of the jury's recommendations.

Here are the other recommendations the VPD says it will implement:

• Police officers in the human resources department should receive specific training relative to the duties of a human resources professional.
• Ensuringeach section within the human resources department works interdependently rather than independently of each other.
• Have a human resource or peer support case representative in regular contact with all employees with mental health issues, and the family and/or support circle if permitted by the employee, to establish and build a relationship and provide continuity of care.
• Training specific to promotions should include formal administrative and management training.
• Ensuringrespectful workplace training is mandatory, rigorous, in-personand regular for all ranks of police officers.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text).

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), live chat counselling onthe website.

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention:Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

This guide from theCentre for Addiction and Mental Healthoutlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.