Alberta police team reviewing RCMP's investigation into Don Dunphy shooting

The Newfoundland and Labradorgovernment is bringing in ateam fromAlberta to conduct an independent review of the RCMP's investigation into the 2015 shooting of Don Dunphy.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) will conduct an "independent and impartial review," according to a statement issued byJustice Minister Andrew ParsonsSunday morning.

The appearance of police investigating police can not always lead people to have full faith.-Andrew Parsons, NLjustice minister

"The first goal is to maintain public confidence in the system,"Parsons told CBC News.

"The appearance of police investigating police can not always lead people to have full faith, and I think even people in police forces will tell you that."

The civilian-ledASIRT has jurisdiction over all police officers in Alberta. Its mandate isto investigate serious injury or deathresulting from police actions.

Parsons said theRCMPfully expected an external body to review its investigation, and is fully complying.

"This has been an issue that's been on the public's mind since it happened," said Parsons.

"It's not about a lack of confidence in the police forces, not at all, but we need to have that scrutiny, and police forces need to withstand that public scrutiny. This is of the utmost importance."

The Alberta justice minister, KathleenGanley, has consented toASIRTperforming the review.

Parsons said they haven't yetdeterminedthe cost of service and don't have a sense of how long it will take.

Public inquiry will still happen

Parsonssaid this is a justification of the need for civilian oversight of the police forces in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Healsosaid the new Liberal government is still committed to conducting a public inquiry into the death of Don Dunphy,after the police investigation and review iscompleted to answer the questions of"what happened and why it happened."

Don Dunphy was shot insidehis Mitchells Brookhome Easter Sunday, 2015, by RNC Cst. Joe Smyth.

Smyth was atthe home investigating tweets that weremade by Dunphy about former premier Paul Davis, and other politicians.

The RCMP said in April that Dunphy pointed a loaded gun at the officer, which is when Smyth fired his own weapon.

"Alberta has a tremendous serious incident response team, also civilian-led, fantastic reputation. So they were available and I knew that talking to the minister we could use that service, so we took advantage of it."