Latest news with #Oppal
National Observer
12-06-2025
- National Observer
Decision coming over an officer's use of anti-riot gun in BC woman's death
An adjudicator appointed by BC's police watchdog is expected to release his decision on the discipline for an officer who fired an anti-riot weapon, killing a woman. Former BC Supreme Court judge Wally Oppal ruled last month that Victoria police Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of a so-called ARWEN gun on Lisa Rauch was "reckless and unnecessary." Oppal was appointed by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to review the evidence against the officer and determined Kirkwood committed misconduct when he used the weapon on the woman, who was in a drug-induced psychosis. The commission says Oppal, a former BC attorney general, is also expected to issue his decision on possible corrective measures and recommendations for change in relation to his findings. Oppal's ruling said the 43-year-old woman was at a friend's Victoria apartment using drugs and alcohol when she went into the psychosis on Christmas Day 2019. It says when police entered the apartment, their view was obscured by smoke from a fire and they believed Rauch was standing, but she was actually sitting and was hit in the head by two plastic projectiles.
Winnipeg Free Press
12-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Decision coming over officer's use of anti-riot gun in B.C. woman's death
VICTORIA – 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. Former B.C. Supreme Court judge Wally Oppal ruled last month that Victoria police Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of a so-called ARWEN gun on Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.' Oppal was appointed by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to review the evidence against the officer and determined Kirkwood committed misconduct when he used the weapon on the woman, who was in a drug-induced psychosis. The commission says Oppal, a former B.C. attorney general, is also expected to issue his decision on possible corrective measures and recommendations for change in relation to his findings. Oppal's ruling said the 43-year-old woman was at a friend's Victoria apartment using drugs and alcohol when she went into the psychosis on Christmas Day 2019. It says when police entered the apartment, their view was obscured by smoke from a fire and they believed Rauch was standing, but she was actually sitting and was hit in the head by two plastic projectiles. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Decision coming over officer's use of anti-riot gun in B.C. woman's death
VICTORIA - 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. Former B.C. Supreme Court judge Wally Oppal ruled last month that Victoria police Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of a so-called ARWEN gun on Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.' Oppal was appointed by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to review the evidence against the officer and determined Kirkwood committed misconduct when he used the weapon on the woman, who was in a drug-induced psychosis. The commission says Oppal, a former B.C. attorney general, is also expected to issue his decision on possible corrective measures and recommendations for change in relation to his findings. Oppal's ruling said the 43-year-old woman was at a friend's Victoria apartment using drugs and alcohol when she went into the psychosis on Christmas Day 2019. It says when police entered the apartment, their view was obscured by smoke from a fire and they believed Rauch was standing, but she was actually sitting and was hit in the head by two plastic projectiles. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police misconduct ruling in death of B.C. woman Lisa Rauch, killed by anti-riot round
An adjudicator appointed by British Columbia's police watchdog has found a Victoria officer committed misconduct when he fired an anti-riot weapon at a woman in 2019, striking her in the head and killing her. Retired judge Wally Oppal ruled for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner that Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of the so-called ARWEN rounds against Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.' No date has been set for Oppal's decision on possible discipline or other recommendations. Rauch had locked herself in an apartment on Christmas Day, 2019, resulting in a police call that ended with her death when Kirkwood fired three ARWEN rounds into the room. The anti-riot weapon Kirkwood used against Rauch fires plastic projectiles, and a police inspector instructed him to 'target' the woman as soon as he saw her, Oppal's ruling said. Oppal's ruling said Rauch, 43, was addicted to drugs and had been drinking alcohol and using crystal meth with a friend at an apartment, when she went into a 'drug induced psychosis.' When police entered the apartment, which was filled with smoke from a fire, they believed they saw Rauch standing in the room, but she had instead been sitting on a couch with her back to them, 'not standing facing them.' Two plastic rounds hit her in the back of the head, 'causing significant trauma,' Oppal's ruling said. Kirkwood, who was a constable at the time of the incident, said he wouldn't have fired the rounds 'if he knew he was aiming at her head,' and said it was difficult to find Rauch afterwards due to the thickness of the smoke. Oppal said Kirkwood's assessment that the situation justified firing the weapon was 'objectively unreasonable' due to Kirkwood's obscured view of the room. He found the allegation of an abuse of authority proven. Oppal found that Kirkwood's failure to make notes did not constitute a neglect of duty. Although this was contrary to Kirkwood's 'common law duty,' it was in line with what his force expected at the time, and accorded with his superior officers' directions, Oppal found. Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan said the case involved the first public hearing called under the B.C. Police Act into a person's death. 'Rauch lost her life, and her family and friends are surely continuing to deal with their tragic loss. All involved, including (Sgt.) Kirkwood and the many first responders, dealt with a traumatic experience,' Rajan said in a news release. 'I am hopeful that lessons can be learned from this tragedy.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Police misconduct ruling in death of B.C. woman Lisa Rauch, killed by anti-riot round
VICTORIA - An adjudicator appointed by British Columbia's police watchdog has found a Victoria officer committed misconduct when he fired an anti-riot weapon at a woman in 2019, striking her in the head and killing her. Retired judge Wally Oppal says in his ruling for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner that Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of the so-called ARWEN rounds against Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.' No date has been set for Oppal's decision on possible discipline or other recommendations. Rauch had locked herself in an apartment on Christmas Day, 2019, resulting in a police call that ended with her death when Kirkwood fired three ARWEN rounds into the room. Oppal says this was 'objectively unreasonable' due to Kirkwood's obscured view of the room. Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan says the case involved the first public hearing called under the B.C. Police Act into a person's death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
