News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Fatal Balcony Fall
Case Number: 08-OCD-125
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"In my view, concluded the Director of the SIU, James Cornish, "there was nothing that the officers did or failed to do that caused this tragic loss of life."
At approximately 6:35 p.m., officers responded to the apartment building at 30 Elm Drive East in the Burnhamthorpe Road/Highway 10 area after an emotionally distraught and depressed woman called the police communications centre indicating that she was going to take her own life. "The operator tried to distract, calm and otherwise delay the woman," said Mr. Cornish, " as the officers below attempted to first secure the scene and then devise a plan as how to establish communication with this woman in proximity to her without precipitating any decision on her part that may be fatal."
Within six minutes of their arrival and before the officers could plan any intervention by attempting to gain access to her apartment, the woman hung herself over the balcony, let go of or lost her grip and fell 22.7 metres (75 feet) to her death. .
The SIU assigned three field investigators and four forensic investigators, who interviewed police officers, civilians, paramedics and hospital medical staff, and reviewed the police dispatching records and the police communications tape detailing the 15-minute effort by the civilian dispatcher to prevent the tragic outcome.
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations