Prince Albert police chief Jonathan Bergen has decided to suspend two officers from active duty as the investigation regarding the police handling of a domestic dispute that tragically claimed the young life of Tanner Brass continues.
The two suspended police officers responded on February 10 to a home on the 200 block of 23rd Street West in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. According to a statement by the police, both officers left the house with the young child's mother. When the police were called back to the house later that same day, they found the 13-month-old boy dead.
The incident has sparked outrage with officers from the Prince Albert Police Service under scrutiny from the mother and the public following the death of young Tanner. Indigenous leaders from the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nation (FSIN), and Thunderchild First Nation released a joint statement earlier this month, calling the young boy's death preventable.
Systemic racism by police to blame for Tanner Brass' death
The groups' leaders said that Brass's mother was fleeing from domestic abuse. The police officers who responded to the scene ignored her fears and call for help, instead arresting her for intoxication. The leaders added that systemic racism played a key factor in Brass's untimely death.
Brass' father had already been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his son, and he is set to appear in court on March 14. Following the young child's death, Bergen turned over the matter to the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to independently investigate the police action.
Indigenous leaders demanded that the police officers and services involved in the incident be held accountable for Brass' death immediately. On Thursday, Bergen finally issued a statement confirming that the PCC had already told him the day before their investigation scope.
Bergen details the scope of investigation by PCC
Bergen said that based on the PCC's analysis of the preliminary evidence available, the scope of the group's independent investigation would include a full investigation of the nature and implications of the response made by the two officers who attended the first call to the Brass residence, according to legal standards imposed on them by police conduct regulations and legislation.
According to CBC, Bergen added that he had suspended the two police officers in question pending the outcome of the PCC's independent investigation based on this information. Bergen also told reporters that further decisions regarding the matter will be "based on facts and evidence that the PCC investigation will ultimately report on."
Bergen said the PCC's independent investigation would also look into "circumstances surrounding any responsibility attributable to three senior supervisory officers" who were on shift at relevant times during the date in question. Bergen said that the Prince Albert Police Service is listening to the people they serve, and they are committed to continuing to listen to them and live up to their expectations.
