Close X
Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Nicole Chan feared she'd lose job: VPD sergeant

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Jan, 2023 02:03 PM
  • Nicole Chan feared she'd lose job: VPD sergeant

BURNABY, B.C. - A Vancouver police sergeant who says he was Const. Nicole Chan's friend and mentor has told a coroner's inquest that Chan believed she would never return to work because human resource officers went to the hospital when she was apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

Sgt. Corey Bech has told the inquest into Chan's death by suicide he spoke to Chan the night before she died and Chan was anxious about workplace rumours and angry that a fellow officer with whom she had a relationship was able to keep his job while Chan thought she would lose hers.

A civil lawsuit filed on behalf of Chan's family last year claims she died by suicide in January 2019 during a severe mental health crisis after being "extorted" by Sgt. David Van Patten to continue their sexual relationship.

Bech told the inquest that he believes the biggest systemic change the department could make would be mandatory mental health check-ins for all first responders.

He says the department has implemented mechanisms including increased peer support since Chan's death in January 2019, but having health professionals check and document officers' mental state "would be a good thing for the department."

B.C.'s coroner says the point of the inquest is to determine the facts related to Chan's death, make recommendations and ensure public confidence that the circumstances in the death won't be overlooked, concealed or ignored.

MORE National ARTICLES

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout
A report released last month by B.C.'s police watchdog said officers fired as many as 100 rounds at Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, who had semi-automatic rifles and were wearing body armour. Six officers were wounded, three of them with life-threatening injuries.

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers
Richmond RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence of a suspected forgery lab. Items seized during the search included high end printers and laminators including those capable of forging security features in governmental identification and thousands of blank ID cards, and numerous electronic devices and computers. 

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood
The premier says the money would be funnelled through the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., with the goal of keeping those in the industry working. The premier says the forestry industry is "clearly in crisis" and that means industry and government need to "find new ways of doing business."

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer
Family members of the women and children, as well as four men, have been arguing in Federal Court that the government must arrange for their return, saying that refusing to do so violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.    

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader
New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says if the Liberal government does not introduce a pharmacare bill in the House of Commons this year, he will consider it a deal-breaker. Both parties signed a confidence-and-supply agreement last March, in which the NDP agreed to support the minority Liberal government in key votes until 2025.    

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader

Illegal border crossings at pre-pandemic levels

Illegal border crossings at pre-pandemic levels
The frozen bodies of Jagdish Patel, 39; his wife Vaishaliben Patel, 37; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and their three-year-old son, Dharmik, were found on Jan. 19, 2022, near Emerson, Man., just metres from the U.S. border.    

Illegal border crossings at pre-pandemic levels