Decision coming over officer’s use of anti-riot gun in B.C. woman’s death
- Victoria police Sgt. Ron Kirkwood fired an ARWEN gun at Lisa Rauch on Christmas Day 2019 in a Victoria apartment, fatally striking her.
- Kirkwood's use of the weapon occurred after police entered a smoke-obscured apartment where Rauch, in drug-induced psychosis, was believed to be standing but was sitting.
- Last month, Wally Oppal, who previously served as a BC Supreme Court judge, determined that Kirkwood's use of force was both reckless and unwarranted, concluding that although Kirkwood engaged in misconduct, there was no malicious intent involved.
- Oppal announced on Thursday that Kirkwood received a seven-day suspension without pay, noting his genuine remorse and that the error occurred during a challenging call with catastrophic circumstances.
- The decision highlights the need for corrective measures, while a coroners’ inquest into Rauch’s death is scheduled, reflecting ongoing legal and procedural review.
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17 Articles
B.C. officer should get 7-day suspension for woman’s plastic bullet death, hearing finds - BC
Retired judge Wally Oppal ruled in May that Sgt. Ron Kirkwood committed misconduct under the Police Act in the Christmas Day 2019 incident that left 43-year-old Lisa Rauch dead.

Victoria officer gets 7-day suspension over death of woman, hit by anti-riot rounds
VICTORIA — A Victoria police officer who was found to have made a serious error in judgment when he fired an anti-riot weapon into a smoke-filled room in 2019, hitting a woman in the head and killing her, has been handed a seven-day suspension withou

Decision coming over officer's use of anti-riot gun in B.C. woman's death
An adjudicator appointed by B.C.'s police watchdog is expected to release his decision on the discipline for an officer who fired an anti-riot weapon, killing a woman.
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