Penticton RCMP is being investigated by the province’s police watchdog after a woman was found dead in the city hours after being visited by officers.
Police were sent to the woman’s home on the 900 block of Burnaby Avenue at about 8 pm on July 30 after a call for assistance, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) said.
Bystanders had called the RCMP after becoming concerned for the elderly woman's welfare.
When officers arrived, they talked to the woman and then departed.
On July 31, at about 11 am, the woman was found dead in her home.
IIO said the above information was provided by the RCMP.
The watchdog will now investigate what role, if any, officers’ actions or lack of actions could have played in the woman’s death.
BC Coroners Service is also conducting an independent investigation into the woman’s death.
The IIO has asked that any person who saw, heard, or recorded the incident contact the IIO Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or through the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death – whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
