Quebec's independent investigation unit beset by delays

The Quebec government's plannedindependent bureau to investigate shootings, serious injuries and deaths involving a police officer is faced with another round of delays.

The province approved a proposalthree years ago to create theBureau des enqutes indpendantes, but it'sstill not operational.

The bureau's latest targeted opening datewas April 29.

But Madeleine Giauque, a former Crown prosecutor whowas named itsdirector in late 2014, told a parliamentary committee last week she would need more time to ensure the new unit can also handle allegations of sexual assault against police.

• Man, 63, dies after being shot by Montreal police in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
• Jean-Pierre Bony, man shot during Montreal North drug bust, has died
• Lac-Simon police officer fatally shoots man

The decision to add that investigative elementto the bureau was made following allegations of abuse against police in Val-d'Orlast year.

"Itbecame clear to me last October after what happened in Val-d'Or that eventually, if we were up and running, that's a situation we would be called upon to investigate," Giauque told the parliamentary committee.

She said her new crop of investigators finished basic training last week.Monday, they began another round of month-long training specifically focused on investigating sexual assaults.

Opening pushed back to June

She said her team would be ready to start handling investigations in mid-June.

The most recent delay to the bureau comes followinga string of police shootings,includingthe death of a 60-year-old man inHochelaga-Maisonneuveon Mondayfollowing an intervention by Montreal police.

TheSretduQubec, which took over the investigation, said officers werewere called to the apartment block to check on someone in psychological distress and that the man had a knife.

Provincialpolice sayastun gun was used in the police operation and the manwas also struck by at least one bullet

Earlier this month, Sandy Tarzan Michel, 25, wasfatally shot bya member of the local aboriginal police force in Lac-Simon.

In another incident,Jean-Pierre Bony, 46, died in hospital after he was shot with an officer's rubber bullet during a drug raid in Montreal North.