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EPS members investigated La Loche incident

Two members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) were in La Loche last week to investigate an incident that occurred April 27 in the north Saskatchewan community.

Two members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) were in La Loche last week to investigate an incident that occurred April 27 in the north Saskatchewan community.

The Saskatchewan RCMP announced on May 10 that the EPS would be carrying out the independent investigation. La Loche RCMP witnessed a man consuming alcohol while sitting on the steps outside a licensed establishment. After observing the behaviour of the man, La Loche officers made the decision to arrest him for illegal consumption and public intoxication.

He resisted arrest and was taken into custody in front of several other members of the community. The man was lodged in La Loche RCMP cells for several hours before he complained of pain to his lower body.

He was transported to La Loche Hospital and then to a Saskatoon hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. He was transferred back to La Loche and has since been released from care.

As a result of this incident, on May 2, the Saskatchewan RCMP requested the independent by the EPS. Additionally, an independent observer has been assigned by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice.

The EPS was tasked with finding out the circumstances surrounding the his injuries, including how and when the injuries occurred.

“When an incident like this happens, they want, obviously, an independent investigation conducted, and there are several police agencies throughout the province that conduct investigations on quite a routine basis, when asked to do so, of other police agencies or other police officers to maintain that independence,” said Estevan Police Chief Paul Ladouceur.

If an incident occurs within a police organization, then the police don`t want someone working within that organization to conduct the investigation, since there might be a close relationship between the officers.

“The rationale is that by looking to another service, there’s that elimination of interference and having conflict with relationships and so forth,” the police chief said.

He believes Estevan was chosen for a couple of reasons. The first is that the EPS has a professional police agency that has been relied on to perform investigations and assist with matters involving other police organizations.

Also, due to the significant geographical distance between Estevan and La Loche, there is a reduced chance of a close connection between officers in the two communities. And Estevan has a permanent full-time criminal investigations division to carry out the work.

Ladouceur didn’t divulge how often the EPS will carry out an investigation like this, but he said it could be for a review of a policy, such as when the EPS is involved in a high-speed pursuit, and wants to have another agency conduct an investigation. They might also be called in for research-related purposes.

It has been a while since the EPS has carried out an independent investigation for another agency.

“They’re fairly far and few between, but not completely uncommon. If we were to receive some requests, say, a couple of times a year from another organization, that would be probably about the maximum.”

The La Loche RCMP issued a statement last week, saying more than 100 people from the community attended a town hall, and many questions were asked about the incident. Some were concerned about the presence of EPS officers to conduct the investigation.

The La Loche RCMP said they could not answer the questions regarding the investigation, since the EPS is handling it.

Ladouceur noted the host agency will usually cover the cost of the investigation and bringing the officers to the community. Usually there is an assessment completed at the end of the investigation, and if costs are minimal, the investigating organization might waive the expenses, knowing they might one day reach out to that same agency for assistance.

“We work together on these things,” said Ladouceur.