Update: SIRT says the witness has been located
Original story
PRINCE ALBERT – A woman may have witnessed the fatal Prince Albert police officer-involved shooting on Jan. 16 and the Serious Incident Response Team wants to talk to her.
SIRT said, based on video evidence they are reviewing from the area, she was operating a 2010 - 11 Ford Focus in the area of 400 South Industrial Drive at about 10:40 p.m.
SIRT says efforts to identify the license plate haven’t been successful.
If you are the witness, or know who the witness is, please call SIRT at 306-933-6342 or send an email to [email protected].
SIRT started investigating the shooting at the request of the Prince Albert Police Service. According to PAPS, one of their officers was driving an unmarked police vehicle during an investigation on the 400 block of South Industrial Drive at about 10:40 p.m. on Jan. 16, when the officer started a foot pursuit with a man. The two had a confrontation and one officer discharged their service pistol hitting the 34-year-old man.
Officers provided first aid until emergency responders arrived. He was taken to hospital where he was later declared deceased.
During a press conference on Jan. 20, PAPS Police Chief Jonathan Bergen said police officers put trust in their training and legislation to guide them through use-of-force decisions and their actions.
“No police officer wakes up, puts on a uniform and wants to be faced with the most difficult decision that we will ever have to make as a police officer,” said Bergen.
This has only been the fourth officer-involved fatal shooting in PAPS 136-year history. The last one was in 2013.
As part of the ongoing investigation, SIRT is asking anyone who may have been in the area between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. and may have witnessed, or have video of the incident that has not yet been provided, to contact SIRT at 306-933-6342.
In April 2021, the province introduced the Police (Serious Incident Response Team) Amendment Act, 2021. This created the civilian-led independent Serious Incident Response Team to investigate serious incidents involving police officers.
Acting under a Civilian Executive Director, SIRT members investigate all matters where a person has suffered a sexual assault, serious injury, or death while in the custody of the police or as a result of the actions of a police officer. Investigations may also be conducted in other incidents where the executive director believes it is in the public interest to do so.
With files from Bailey Sutherland / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
— Click for more from Crime, Cops and Court.
