A series of recommendations resulted from a coroner’s inquest into the death of Chantel Moore.
Moore was shot and killed by an Edmundston police officer in June 2020 during a wellness check.
An inquest into her death was held this week in Fredericton.
A five-member jury heard from 16 witnesses and the recommendations include the province adding an independent agency to oversee serious incidents involving the use of force by police.
They want to see a clear, concise protocol for activating the process of an independent review of serious incidents.
The jury would also like to see police work on relationship-building actions with First Nations communities, including a First Nations community liaison.
The jury has recommended that police officers be assessed on their comprehension of current procedures and policies.
A number of recommendations were also made on training, policy and best practices.
The recommendations will be forwarded by the chief coroner to the appropriate agencies or organizations for their consideration and response.
Those responses will be included in the chief coroner’s annual report for 2022.
Training Recommendations
• That police officers should be trained and maintain certification in standard CPR and first aid.
• That police officers should be trained and provided the necessary equipment to provide combat casualty care.
• That officers be provided with crisis intervention/de-escalation training.
• That officers be provided scenario training that emphasizes situational awareness and repositioning and disengagement options.
Policy Recommendations
• That police policy on medical emergencies be reviewed.
• That police policy on providing first aid after force has been applied be reviewed so that officers begin emergency medical aid as soon as possible and continue that aid until medical responders arrive and take over.
• That police be provided training about the proper procedures following a serious incident involving serious injury or death and that front line supervisors be provided training on the critical aspects of immediate scene command and control to ensure the integrity of evidence and witnesses.
• That police have a policy on the maintenance of equipment and the reporting of broken or non-functional equipment.
• That police have a policy mandating the wearing of use-of-force equipment.
Best Practices
• That officers have more access to less-lethal tools.
• That police agencies have a process in place to learn from and make continuous improvement after every use-of-force event.
• That protocols, where possible, require a minimum of two officers respond to mental health and welfare check requests.
• That officer training reinforces the importance of making verbal police announcements.
