Pubdate: Sun, 17 Feb 2008
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Susan Lazaruk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

DRUGS, ALCOHOL FUEL IN-CUSTODY DEATHS

Author States Police Force Committed To Reducing Fatal Incidents

An internal RCMP study documenting 80 in-custody deaths across Canada 
over five years found most involved alcohol or drugs -- and a growing 
number involved "excited delirium."

Forty per cent, or 32 deaths, between 2002 and 2006 were attributed 
to alcohol and/or drug toxicity, followed by being shot by an 
officer, at almost 25 per cent.

About 10 per cent died by suicide and the rest were by natural causes 
or trauma.

The report found a typical in-custody death involved a male 30 to 50 
years old who had a criminal record and was drunk or under the 
influence of drugs.

"The subjects lived, for the most part, high-risk lifestyles," it 
said. "Their decisions resulted in their deaths."

It said officers are in a "difficult position" dealing with 
intoxicated people because hospitals won't admit them unless they 
need medical help.

"There's no doubt there's probably a high incidence of drugs and 
alcohol involved in those cases, but it doesn't exonerate the RCMP," 
said Murray Mollard of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

Mollard said that unless the RCMP allows independent investigations, 
it shows a lack of willingness for the self-critique necessary for 
systemic change.

Mollard cited the case of Const. Ryan Sheremetta, who shot Kevin St. 
Arnaud dead in Vanderhoof in 2004 and was accused of giving false 
testimony during a coroner's inquest last year. His testimony was 
challenged and an external review by Toronto police was called only 
after the police public complaints commissioner investigated -- not 
after the internal investigation.

The RCMP's in-custody death report also showed that of the total 80 
deaths, 18, or almost one-quarter, involved "excited delirium."

The condition, usually cocaine-induced and which requires a number of 
officers to control sufferers because of their superhuman strength, 
was cited in almost half of all deaths in 2006.

That was up from less than one-third in 2005 and one-tenth in 2004.

The author said in-custody deaths are sometimes unavoidable, but that 
the force was committed to trying to reduce them.
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