Coroner’s Inquest verdict for Jaime Diane Hope’s death released

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A coroner’s inquest in Dawson Creek has come to a close with the jury returning from deliberations to present their verdict. 

Jaime Diane Hope passed away on April 13th, 2019 of a methamphetamine overdose while in Dawson Creek RCMP custody. 

The B.C. Coroners Service announced an inquest on May 14th, intended to understand the circumstances of Hope’s passing in RCMP custody on April 13th, 2019.

The jury appointed for the inquest can recommend training or procedural changes if necessary, but no legal responsibility will be taken after the inquest’s conclusion.

The first part of the inquest consisted of four days of witness testimony, ranging from a close friend of the deceased to medical staff from Dawson Creek and Prince George and members of the Dawson Creek RCMP. 

Witness testimony concluded around 4 p.m. on June 20th, and the jury returned to deliver their verdict at around 2 p.m. on June 21st. 

The jury’s verdict listed three recommendations, all directed towards the BC RCMP and the Dawson Creek RCMP detachment commander. 

The first recommendation is a policy to require any officer authorizing or conducting a strip search to ‘review current related RCMP procedure required in such search.’ This recommendation comes after the jury heard testimony from RCMP officers confirming a lack of formal field training for strip searches. 

The second recommendation was directed to the BC RCMP. The jury recommended the creation of a digital strip search training guide, specifying that the guide should include the positioning of a detainee’s body during the search. 

“Providing a visual aid will help ensure strip searches are completed to a consistent standard, instead of relying on verbal instructions from another member who cannot see the search as it is being conducted,” The jury stated. 

The third recommendation was directed towards Dawson Creek RCMP and encouraged more emphasis to be placed on reminding civilian guards that they can ask for an additional guard if they feel one is necessary, regardless of how many detainees are in the precinct. 

According to testimony heard throughout the four days of testimony, civilian guards work as individuals until more than ten detainees are present in the precinct, after which another guard will be brought in. 

The verdict will be available for the public in the near future on the BC Coroner’s website.