B.C.'s police complaint commissioner has ordered a public hearing into the actions of four Vancouver Police officers who were involved in a pursuit of a suspect vehicle which ended in a crash that killed an innocent man in Richmond.
Frankie Lam, 51, died on Aug. 1, 2006 while on his way home from work. Lam's minivan was hit by a stolen car driven by Sherri Lynn Gehring, whom the RCMP described as being high on crack cocaine.
The crash which killed Lam occurred at the intersection of Shell Road and Cambie Road, Richmond, around 1:30 a.m.
Gehring is now serving a 4�-year jail sentence for dangerous driving causing death.
It is alleged that the four Vancouver officers committed disciplinary defaults under the Code of Professional Conduct Regulation by continuing the pursuit of the vehicle despite the pursuit having been called off by their supervisor, and knowing that a plan had been established to arrest Gehring.
The hearing will look into whether the officers failed to comply with an order, binding directive or policy of the Vancouver Police Department regarding pursuits; and neglected their duty in failing to work in accordance with orders.
A coroner's inquest into Lam's death took place in March and April of 2008. The inquest's jury recommended that police chases only occur when there is not another option.
Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner Bruce Brown said in an interview such hearings were "infrequent" with only around 12 taking place in the last eight or nine years.
He said the hearing would be held before retired Justice of the British Columbia Court of Appeal Allan Thackray, Q.C.
It would be several weeks before a date and location for the hearing is selected, he said.
