News Release

SIU Concludes Innerkip Investigation

Case Number: 06-OCD-204   

Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OCD-204

SIU Investigates Death in Innerkip

TORONTO (5 December, 2006) --- James Cornish, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has concluded that there is no reasonable basis to believe that any Oxford Community Police Service officers are criminally responsible for the death of Gary Kaufman.

On November 27, 2006, at about 2:30 p.m., the Oxford Police received a call about a despondent man who was threatening to injure himself. The caller believed that the man, identified as Gary Kaufman, was armed with a firearm.

A police negotiator established contact with Mr. Kaufman as Oxford containment team officers arrived at his home on Township Road #6. Mr. Kaufman was barricaded inside. Officers secured a perimeter around the house as the negotiator continued to communicate with Mr. Kaufman. At about 5:00 p.m., Mr. Kaufman told the negotiator he would exit the house with his hands in the air. About a minute later, officers heard a single gunshot come from within the home

The Ontario Provincial Police Tactical Response Unit arrived at the scene after the shot was heard. There was no further contact with Mr. Kaufman.

At approximately 11:00 p.m., officers entered the home and found Mr. Kaufman with fatal injuries. A rifle was near his body.

Based on all the available evidence, Director Cornish concluded Mr. Kaufman died of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He said, "The police officers who attended in an attempt to end this stand off peacefully did nothing to cause or contribute to this man's tragic death."

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

  • consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
  • depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
  • publicly report the results of its investigations
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES