All police officers in B.C. should have up-to-date first-aid training to help prevent deaths, a coroner’s jury recommends.
The recommendations came after a jury reviewed John Ian Rice’s death in the custody of Victoria Police Department. Rice died July 12, 2009 from an agitated delirium, caused by ingesting cocaine.
“If you look at the amount of training police officers are asked to have, how do you provide that?” Sgt. Grant Hamilton said. “Right now we have what we think is an appropriate compromise.”
VicPD’s jail supervisors and patrol supervisors all have first-aid training, but many officers do not.
“It’s something we have to look at because as there’s more requests for training for officers, it’s about finding the time to do that. That’s taking an officer off the road.”
Victoria police arrested Rice, 38, in Fairfield several hours before he died, after complaints came in about his erratic behaviour. He initially stopped breathing, but officers revived him, then took him to Royal Jubilee Hospital, where he died.
A coroner’s inquest last week found Rice’s death was accidental and that better training for police could avoid a similar death in the future.
Coroner’s inquests are called any time someone dies in police custody.
ecardone@vicnews.com
