North District Major Crime Unit clarifies role, information sharing

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The North District Major Crime Unit (NDMCU) has released a statement clarifying its role in suspicious death investigations and sharing information after comments were allegedly made.

Energeticcity.ca contacted the North District RCMP to gain more context about the comments and the specific case.

According to Corporal Madonna Saunderson with the North District RCMP, the release was intended to provide general insight into all investigations and not to any specific single investigation.

She told Energeticcity.ca it was a statement that NDMCU asked to be issued.

According to the RCMP, the NDMCU is called to assist local detachments when the circumstances of a death are unclear, and murder can’t be ruled out.

The NDMCU supports detachments through consultation and may deploy a team to the community for assistance and oversight.

The local detachment maintains the file on an incident if the investigation is deemed non-criminal.

The statement says NDMCU may take control of an investigation if the local detachment does not have the capacity or the expertise necessary.

When NDMCU has control of the file, they work with the local detachment and other support units and the detachment is not authorized to speak on the file.

According to the police, these investigations are often complex and may appear to move slowly, but they are active as the NDMCU continues to follow up on all tips and new information.

The NDMCU says in any investigation, but especially homicides, the integrity of the investigation always takes precedence over the release of information to the public.

“We will, and do, release what information we can, but our priority must always be to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” read the statement.

“The full details of the investigation, in time, will become public knowledge through the court process.”