A Victoria police officer is facing potential disciplinary action after an inquiry found his use of force was reckless and unneeded, leading to the death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch. the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner (OPCC) persistent that the officer, Sgt. Ron Kirkwood, abused his authority when he fired plastic bullets into a smokey room on christmas Day 2019, striking Ms. Rauch in the head.

The Incident Unfolds

• The Call: Officers responded to a call at a supportive housing unit where Ms. Rauch had locked herself in a room.
• Initial Response: Police waited for crisis communicators, as witnesses reported Ms. Rauch was in a drug-induced psychosis and had threatened people with a knife.
• Escalation: A fire broke out in the room, triggering the building’s fire alarms.
• Entry and Use of Force: Sgt. Kirkwood, armed with an Arwen gun (which shoots plastic bullets), entered the room with other officers and firefighters.
• The Shooting: Amidst the smoke,Sgt. Kirkwood fired three rounds, intending to hit Ms. Rauch’s abdomen.However,she was seated and facing away,and a bullet struck the back of her head.
• Aftermath: Ms. Rauch died in hospital a few days later. CCTV footage showed the entire sequence from entry to evacuation lasted just 46 seconds.

The OPCC Ruling

Retired Judge Wally Oppal presided over the OPCC’s public hearing, which was initiated after previous investigations by B.C.’s Internal Investigations Office and Vancouver Police found no wrongdoing. The OPCC, independant from municipal police forces, monitors and investigates municipal police forces and administers discipline according to the Police act.

The hearing aimed to determine if Sgt. Kirkwood committed abuse of authority by using unnecessary force and if he neglected his duty by failing to make notes after the incident. Judge Oppal ruled in the affirmative on the first question and negative on the second.

despite acknowledging the stressful and chaotic habitat, Judge Oppal stated:

The circumstances were not such, when he identified what he believed to be ms. Rauch 15 feet away,that he was deprived of a meaningful opportunity to reflect and reassess.
Retired Judge Wally Oppal

This finding led to the determination that Sgt.Kirkwood committed abuse of authority.

Reactions to the Decision

The ruling came as a surprise to both the police and the Rauch family.

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak expressed his surprise, noting that previous investigations had cleared Sgt. Kirkwood. This has really been tough. It’s been tough on our officers. It’s been tough on the family.There are no winners in this, Chief Manak said. He added that the department would review the report and consider recommended changes, maintaining that officers acted as deliberately as possible in a chaotic situation.

Audrey Rauch, lisa Rauch’s mother, stated, I’m very grateful for his decision. Sort of shocked that it did turn out this way. She added,It has been a long five-and-a-half years as her daughter was killed,and the journey is not over yet. Ms. Rauch and her family are working with the coroner’s office to arrange an inquest into her daughter’s death.

Ms. Rauch also wants people to remember her daughter as a fun and funny woman, despite her struggles.

What’s Next?

Sgt. Kirkwood is expected to face disciplinary measures, and recommendations for corrective actions within the Victoria Police Department are anticipated. The specific nature and timing of these actions remain to be determined.