Public inquiry called into conduct of Vancouver police in Myles Gray's beating death

A person holds a sign with a photo of Myles Gray before the start of a coroner's inquest into his death, in Burnaby, B.C., on April 17, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

A public hearing will be held to examine the conduct of seven Vancouver police officers in the beating death of Myles Gray, with Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan saying there is "meaningful uncertainty as to what happened" that day in August 2015.

In a statement issued by his office, Rajan says the alleged misconduct is serious, and it is "appropriate for the public to know that the best available evidence has been gathered, tested, and considered before a final decision is made."

The statement says 33-year-old Gray, who was unarmed, died after police responded to a 911 call and "used significant force to subdue and restrain him."

The jury in a coroner's inquest last year classified Gray's death as a homicide, though the presiding coroner noted it was a neutral term that doesn't imply blame.

An external disciplinary process led by Delta Police Chief Neil Dubord wrapped up in October, finding seven officers did not commit misconduct leading up to Gray's death.

But the statement from Rajan's office says Dubord noted the framework for discipline proceedings under the Police Act has "inherent limitations that restricted the testing of evidence," and there were "discrepancies and inconsistencies" in the officers' statements that had not been subjected to cross-examination.

Dates for the public hearing have yet to be determined, but the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner says it will begin at the earliest possible date.

Retired B.C. Supreme Court justice Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey has been appointed to preside over the proceedings, and the office says it will be her responsibility to determine whether the officers involved in the beating committed misconduct.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024.