PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is demanding an outside probe of allegations of sex assault at the Prince George detachment.
The RCMP say the woman's complaint involves how she was searched when she was brought to the detachment on charges of disturbing the peace.
But Robert Holmes, the association's president, said in a news release that at the very least, a major crimes investigator from a different detachment should oversee the case.
"These (sex assault) allegations are among the most serious a person can make," said Holmes.
Holmes said he is also concerned about reports that the head of the Prince George detachment has already dismissed some allegations against off-duty members, even though the internal probe is not yet complete.
Supt. Brenda Butterworth-Carr, the detachment commander in Prince George, said the RCMP's E Division headquarters has taken over the internal investigation.
As well, she said a civilian has been brought in to offer oversight on the investigation, a role created after RCMP in Prince George met with leaders of local aboriginal communities.
"That person has been engaged in this process and will receive unfettered access to the entire investigation," said Butterworth-Carr.
The superintendent said she has seen video of the Aug. 27 incident and the investigation is aimed at determining whether RCMP policy was breached by the one female and two male officers involved.
Butterworth-Carr issued a news release on Sept. 26 to refute "rumours circulating in the community that are both concerning and inaccurate."
The release said some people were identifying police officers involved in the incident who weren't even on shift that day.
The woman has filed a complaint with the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP.
