The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) have announced that a public hearing will be held, just over four years after Lisa Rauch was shot and killed by a VicPD officer firing “less-lethal” projectiles.
The incident occurred on Christmas Day 2019, when Rauch, a woman in a Victoria-based supportive housing facility, threatened her peers with a weapon, barricaded herself in a room and reportedly lit a fire within.
At that point a VicPD officer with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) performed an “emergency entry” and fired three rounds from an ARWEN (anti-riot weapon, enfield) less-lethal launcher.
The rounds fired at Rauch struck her head and neck areas and according to the IIO she was knocked unconscious.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) say that following her being knocked out, she was given medical attention and taken to hospital.
There, Rauch was kept alive via life support and never woke up from the wounds to her head.
She was taken off life support four days later and died in hospital.
The IIO’s investigation was concluded in October 2020 and found that the police officer had acted within the parameters of his duties in the moment when he fired the rounds at Rauch.
Regardless of this, the OPCC initiates mandatory investigations whenever death or serious harm results from an incident involving police officers.
These investigations are separate and distinct from investigations by the IIO and are not restricted to evidence gathered by the IIO.
The officer responsible for her death has yet to be named in the OPCC, IIO and VicPD reports on the matter.
On Monday, April 15th, the public hearing will take place for this VicPD officer in Victoria and will continue through until the 19th.
Other dates allocated to this public hearing are April 29th to May 3rd and May 6th to 10th.
The adjudicator for an OPCC public hearing will be a retired judge. The appointed adjudicator will review the evidence, hear sworn testimony and arrive at a decision as to whether there is misconduct.
If necessary, they will determine the corrective and/or disciplinary measures to be imposed and their decision will be final and conclusive.
 have announced that a public hearing will be held, just over four years after Lisa Rauch was shot and killed by a VicPD officer firing “less-lethal” projectiles.){kind=link}