Yukon's top Mountie supports civilian oversight

The Yukon RCMP's commanding officer says he would welcome the creation of an independent agency that wouldinvestigate the RCMP when people die or are seriously injured in their custody.

Supt. Peter Clark was responding to a private member's bill introduced by British Columbia New Democratic MP Nathan Cullen proposing that a civilian watchdog agency be established to oversee the national police force.

"Certainly, the RCMP is on record as being in support of civilian oversight for serious investigations involving our members," Clark told CBC Newslate Tuesday.

"We believe that this is a transparent and appropriate method for the public to have the confidence in their police service."

The Yukon RCMP has come under fire since Raymond Silverfox, a 43-year-old First Nations man, died after being kept for 13 hours in the Whitehorse RCMP detachment's drunk tank in December 2008.

A coroner's inquest in April heard that RCMP officers and detachment guards neglected and even ridiculed Silverfox as he lay in a pool of his vomit and feces in his cell. He later died in hospital of acute pneumonia.

Non-RCMP agency handling probe

Earlier this year, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott announced that the RCMP will have independent agencies investigate cases where the force is involved in the serious injury or death of an individual or if an RCMP employee is suspected of contravening the Criminal Code.

An RCMP unit from Prince George, B.C., had conducted the initial investigationinto Silverfox's death, but Clark said those duties have since been handed over to a non-RCMP investigative unit.

"We completely welcome this step. It's appropriate and necessary during these times," he said.

"The RCMP has, as best we can, already [been] moving towards, if not meeting, the spirit of these changes."

Clark said Elliott has also made it clear that he supports the establishment of a civilian oversight agency for the RCMP.

Cullen introduced his private member's bill in November. He said it has the support of the Liberals and the Bloc Qubcois, but the Conservative government has yet to indicate its support.

Inquiry demands premature: Clark

Meanwhile, the federal New Democrats have added their voice to those of Silverfox's family, the Assembly of First Nations and others who are calling for a full public inquiry into Silverfox's death.

But Clark said those calls might be premature because the criminal investigation surrounding Silverfox's death is not yet complete.

"It's not appropriate for me to comment on that, or for the public to assume that that investigation is complete, because, clearly, it is not," he said.

The Yukon government has not ruled out the possibility of an inquiry, but it is waiting for Crown prosecutors to finishreviewing the case.