Too early to determine if inquiry needed in Don Dunphy shooting, Darin King says
No decision will be made on whether or not an inquiry will be called into the circumstances surrounding Don Dunphy's death until the RCMP concludes its investigation, says Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
Dunphy was shot and killed by a member of Premier Paul Davis's security detail on Easter Sunday at his home in Mitchells Brook, a small community 85 kilometres southwest of St. John's.
"I will want to see the current, ongoing investigation unfold and see what the results are," King said Tuesday.
The shooting happened in RCMP jurisdiction and will be investigated as such, with Retired Supreme Court Justice David Riche acting as an "independent observer" of the police investigation.
The officer, whom CBC is not naming out of safety concerns, is a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
"I think it will be much too early to predetermine whether in fact there will be another inquiry called," King told CBC News.
"At this point, I just want to see the conclusion of the current investigation and take it one step at a time."
The initial investigation determined Dunphy, 59, and the officer involved had a 15 minute conversation before there was a "sudden and dramatic" change in the demeanour of the visit, the RCMP said in a statement last week.
Dunphy pointed a long-barrel firearm and the officer responded with lethal force, the RCMP said.
Confident in police forces
Dunphy's death has sparked calls for a judicial inquiry and outside review of the case, independent of the RNC and RCMP.
However, King said he is confident in both police forces.
"It's unfortunate that we get in circumstances like we're in where some public confidence is shaken — but that's understandable, it was a very tragic event," said King, who offered his condolences to the family.
"We have professional officers on both forces and I am confident that the RCMP will do due diligence and I certainly eagerly await the conclusion of the investigation and take it from there."
Leaked letter investigated
Meanwhile, the RNC has started its own internal investigation into a letter written by the officer who shot Dunphy, which was leaked to the media.
A spokesperson for the police force confirmed that three officers from the RNC's professional standards section are investigating the leak of the email.
The 900-word letter was sent to more than 400 police officers and 125 civilian employees last Friday.
The RNC said if it was an officer who leaked the email, it would be in violation of the RNC Act.