News Release
SIU Investigates Death of Officer in Sault Ste. Marie
Case Number: 06-OVD-083
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OVD-083
On May 15, 2006, the SIU confirmed with the SSMPS that Senior Constable Don Doucet was a passenger in a police cruiser when the cruiser and a minivan were involved in a collision at the intersection of Black Road and McNabb Street. As a result, Constable Doucet suffered fatal injuries. The officer driving the police cruiser and the female driver of the van were taken to hospital where they were treated and released.
Two SIU investigators will be probing what role, if any, the officer driving the cruiser played in the circumstances surrounding the collision.
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