News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation in Burwash Area

Case Number: 09-PCD-097   

Mississauga (2 July, 2009) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Ian Scott has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 65 year old Sudbury man in Burwash Township on April 30, 2009.

Four investigators and two forensic investigators from the SIU probed the circumstances of this occurrence.

Director Scott concluded, “All the evidence gathered as a result of the investigation suggests that Mr. Feick died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The subject officer simply happened to be the closest of a group of officers responding to a call. The officers had nothing to do with Mr. Feick's decision to end his life.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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