No Investigation into Use of Force in Incident Involving Indigenous Woman

The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba has determined that it will not investigate the use of force applied by officers in the Brandon Police Service during an incident involving Cassity Delvenne, a 24-year-old Indigenous woman. This decision follows an event in June where Delvenne was reportedly resisting arrest, which became a point of concern for some community members following her death approximately nine days later. The Brandon police chief publicly announced that the IIU would not undertake an investigation, which has raised questions within the community regarding the accountability of law enforcement actions. The context of this decision comes amidst an ongoing dialogue about the treatment of Indigenous individuals in policing scenarios across Canada, a dialogue that has gained more attention in light of various recent events. Community reactions to the announcement have varied, with some expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of inquiry into the event, highlighting the ongoing concerns about systemic issues within policing.