The public hearing into the police-involved death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch wrapped up witness testimony on May 8, with Kevin Cyr, an RCMP expert on police tactics, calling the decision to fire an anti-riot weapon at her the B次元官网网址渓east-worst choice.B次元官网网址�

The incident occurred on Christmas Day of 2019, when Rauch had holed up in a supportive housing unit on Pandora Avenue, allegedly high on methamphetamine and wielding a knife. She died after being hit with rounds from an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) rifle, fired by officer Ron Kirkwood.

Testimony from Cyr, who is the RCMP inspector in command of the Lower MainlandB次元官网网址檚 emergency response team, mostly mirrored that of the other experts and police involved. He said the response was justified.

After a fire was reported in the unit, police needed to act with urgency, Cyr said. This narrowed their options.

Because Rauch was reported to have a knife, and because the fire itself could be viewed as a weapon, the officers had grounds to use force to protect themselves.

But, as with other officers and experts, Cyr was questioned whether this would still be the case had the police officers known the fire was out B次元官网网址� as firefighters had testified. It is also unclear if Rauch started the fire, and if an accelerant was used that would make it harder to put out.

Public hearing counsel Brad Hickford, who acts sort of like a Crown counsel in this case, made the point that the lack of a fire investigation means these things are difficult to know. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C (IIO) had taken over the investigation and firefighters did not re-enter the scene after making sure the fire was officially out.

B次元官网网址淭he fire department wasnB次元官网网址檛 allowed to conduct that investigation by the IIO,B次元官网网址� Hickford said.

Cyr was also also questioned on whether police action followed proper procedures in terms of vocalizing commands to Rauch before using force.

Chris Considine, counsel for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC), pressed the point about what the standard protocol is for a police officer faced with a person who may have a weapon, but who is standing in a smoky room with their hands not quite visible.

B次元官网网址淲ouldnB次元官网网址檛 you say B次元官网网址榟ands upB次元官网网址� so you can see if thereB次元官网网址檚 a weapon her hands?B次元官网网址� Considine asked B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a standard police tactic, isnB次元官网网址檛 it?B次元官网网址�

Cyr confirmed that is the standard procedure, but in the moment and the context of everything that was happening that day, officers needed to take their B次元官网网址渨indow of opportunity.B次元官网网址� He also said the officer had given Rauch plenty of opportunities to surrender.

B次元官网网址淚n this case, as I read it, that had already been tried over the span of an hour, and was unsuccessful,B次元官网网址� Cyr said. B次元官网网址淪o I think sometimes one has to ask, why would we expect a different result from the same action?B次元官网网址�

The public hearing is being held at the request of RauchB次元官网网址檚 family. Kirkwood has already been cleared by two inquiries - one by the IIO and one by the OPCC.

Though he is not facing criminal indictment at this point, Kirkwood could still be reprimanded or dismissed as a result of this hearing.

The hearing is tentatively set to reconvene on July 9 for three days of closing arguments that will also include a statement by RauchB次元官网网址檚 family.

There is a chance one more witness will be called before then, but KirkwoodB次元官网网址檚 counsel said a deal will ideally be reached to avoid that being necessary.

The potential witness is the lawyer who told Kirkwood not to take fulsome notes after the incident, warning him the notes could be held against him were he to be charged with a crime related to the death.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

READ MORE: