NL

Release all reports on Don Dunphy shooting death, urges police association

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association says it's concerned about the confidence of people in the province about the various police investigations into Dunphy's death.

No investigations into Dunphy's death have been publicly released

59-year-old Don Dunphy was shot dead at his Michells Brook home on April 5, 2015, Easter Sunday. (CBC)

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association is calling for the public release of all evidence and reports related to the investigation of the shooting death of Don Dunphy by one of its members, Const. Joe Smyth.

"While we respect the public inquiry process, we are very concerned about the impact on the public inquiry process and the confidence of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in it," stated the RNCA in a press release Thursday.

The RNCA added the "incomplete" disclosure of information surrounding the Dunphy investigation has caused "speculative comments" to swirl around the man's death. 

Dunphy was shot to death in his home by Smyth on Easter Sunday 2015. Reviews into his death by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) and the Saskatoon Police Service have not been released publicly.

The RNCA said immediate release of reports and evidence makes more sense than waiting for a pending public inquiry, something it urges the provincial government to establish as quickly as possible, "so that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador can finally be informed as to the full circumstances of what occurred on that unfortunate day."

The RCMP issued a brief, email response to the RNCA's request.

"The RCMP understands that members of the public would like further details of the investigation into the death of Mr. Dunphy. We are monitoring the concerns raised by the public and are preparing for the provincial public inquiry," the police force wrote.