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Williams Lake First Nation And Association of BC Indian Chiefs They are calling for a public inquiry into the death of a local man after talks with the RCMP earlier this month.
Rozun Alphonse, a father of four children, died on July 10, when his family made a distress call to the police, worried that he would hurt himself. Chief Willie Sellers Heavily armed RCMP officers fired tear gas shells.
“We look at statistics from across the Indian country and the consistent theme is that indigenous people are discriminated against,” Sellers told Global News.
“Rojun’s Legacy – We want to see change and if that’s the spark that comes out of his death…
British Columbia’s police watchdog, the Independent Investigation Office (IIO), is investigating the incidents that led to Alphonse’s death at his family’s home.
According to the IIO, police responded to reports of a man “allegedly in distress and possessing a weapon” on 11th Avenue. The office’s July 10 release said members of the RCMP and emergency response team participated and tried to entangle the man for several hours.
Williams Lake Count. Scott Nelson has told Global News that police used a “stun bomb” between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to secure the building. He said one person went out before the police could go inside.
According to the IIO, around 12:30 pm, the officers entered the house and found that the man had hurt himself.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the watchdog is determining whether any police action – or inaction – contributed to his death.
The Williams Lake RCMP has said they will not provide any further details about the incident while the investigation is ongoing.
Surrounded by friends, family and supporters at Williams Lake First Nation, Alphonse’s wife described him as a “loving” and “hard worker”.
“He made sure to take care of all of us. He made sure to teach the kids how to hunt, fish. All our memories will be cherished forever and never forgotten,” she said through tears.
“It was just a distress call for help. For people of color in our city – which surrounds our Aboriginal communities – there will be a fear of calling the RCMP now.
She said she would never trust or call the police again and would not apologize for their loss.
“We ask for justice how our RCMP followed this call when our daughter was still at home, and they still gas-bombed our family home.”
The woman said her daughter left the house with her arms in the air and was placed in a heated RCMP vehicle without air-conditioning or the ability to make phone calls. He said that his daughter was also questioned by the police without her knowledge.
Williams Lake First Nation and UBCIC are calling for a public inquiry that examines First Nation public safety and policing in BC with a systemic lens, and special attention to the circumstances of the July 10 tragedy.
“We are deeply disappointed by how police interactions with indigenous people often result in tragedies like this, and we call for immediate action and police reform,” UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said in a news release on Tuesday. are doing.”
“It is more than one incident, this is a pattern that is not getting the attention and commitment that it deserves to address to the systemic racism that allows this type of behavior to continue.”
According to the Public Inquiry Act of the province, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may establish a Public Inquiry Commission in any matter considered to be of “public interest”.
Global News contacted Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin for comment on the call for an investigation into the tragedy, and received a response from the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnsworth.
“Our thoughts are with the family of Rojun Alphonse and the Williams Lake First Nations community,” Farnsworth said in an emailed statement.
“The Independent Investigation Office (IIO) is mandated to investigate any incident involving the police, resulting in death or grievous damage. The BC Coroners Service is also investigating the death. As such, we cannot comment further in this matter.”
In a landmark report in April, A committee charged with investigating policing in B.C. said it heard “clear evidence of systemic racism” in enforcement across the province. It recommended changes to the way police handle mental health calls, and recommended that new legislation be drafted to regulate policing in B.C., based on the values of “decolonization, racism, community and accountability”. Are.
The committee also called for Indigenous peoples and municipalities to be involved in creating the new Community Safety and Police Act, which would oversee Recommended New Provincial Police Service,
In an interview, the IIO’s chief said Tuesday’s call for a public inquiry would not hinder the office’s investigation into the man’s death.
“Our investigation is what determines whether criminal charges should be recommended,” explained Ron MacDonald, IIO’s chief civic director.
“I expect that until the criminal investigation is complete, there will be little chance for the government to move towards a public inquiry of any kind.”
Macdonald said he had no deadline for completing the July 10 event.
Sellers said Tuesday that neither the RCMP nor the IIO are “entities we can rely on right now,” which is part of why he wants a public inquiry. He said the RCMP communication has been poor since the incident.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides culturally competent counseling and crisis intervention for all Indigenous peoples experiencing trauma and distress. Can be reached at any time on the toll free line at 1-855-242-3310.
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