British Columbia’s police watchdog agency has concluded that officers in a community in the province’s Interior could have taken additional measures in the search for a missing Indigenous woman, who was tragically discovered deceased later on.
The Independent Investigations Office conducted an examination of the case involving the RCMP in Vanderhoof, B.C., and determined that while the police followed standard procedures and were not in violation of any offense, there were opportunities for further actions.
Search operations, initiated on October 11, 2023, led to the eventual discovery of the woman’s body several weeks later, with the assistance of officers and a police dog.
Following a request for review on December 4, 2023, the investigations agency found that officers had the option to utilize a police dog during the initial search but did not do so.
Although the woman’s identity was not disclosed in the report, the circumstances align with those of Chelsey Quaw, a member of the Saik’uz First Nation.
Despite employing measures such as drone surveillance, reviewing security footage, and distributing informational materials during multiple search efforts, Quaw’s remains were not located until November 5.
Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund of the IIO emphasized that both the police and the community made considerable efforts to locate the missing woman, underscoring the importance of enhanced measures, particularly when Indigenous individuals are involved.