The Regina Police Service is making public a redacted copy of the “Independent File Review: Sudden Death Investigation of Nadine Machiskinic”, which was requested by RPS Chief Evan Bray, in 2017, and carried out by the Saskatchewan RCMP.
This independent review was commissioned by Chief Evan Bray, by means of formal correspondence on August 4, 2017, to RCMP F-Division Criminal Operations. This was not a review mandated by legislation or judicial process. The investigation into the death of Nadine Machiskinic (January 10, 2015) had already been adjudicated by the Saskatchewan Provincial Complaints Commission and was also the subject of a Coroner’s Inquest, in 2018. At the conclusion of the Coroner’s Inquest, there were no other legislated avenues to review this case. The RCMP review was voluntarily requested by Chief Bray as a means of reassuring the family of Nadine Machiskinic that the Regina Police Service would be open to any recommendations that could improve death investigations in the future.
“I remain confident that, despite the acknowledged delays in this case, it was thoroughly investigated,” said Chief Evan Bray of the Regina Police Service. “Our investigation showed no evidence that someone was criminally responsible for the death of Ms. Nadine Machiskinic. None of the recommendations in this review would have changed the outcome of our investigation.”
It is important to note that the RCMP review, requested by Chief Bray, was not a re-investigation of the death of Ms. Machiskinic. It was an earnest request to identify process gaps and suggest best practices for future death investigations. The RCMP review contains 14 recommendations: the majority of which have already been implemented by the Regina Police Service.
This document was the subject of a request under Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation, or LA FOIPP. As per the requirements of LA FOIPP legislation, identifying information of private individuals was redacted. The Regina Police Service felt it would be fair and equitable to make the entire review public, but first obtained permission from the RCMP, who are the owners of the document. In addition, the Regina Police Service met with the family of Nadine Machiskinic to provide them with the same, redacted copy of the RCMP review, and to advise them that the RCMP review would be made public on this date (March 28, 2019) at 4:00 p.m. The same, redacted copy of the RCMP review is now public, attached to this news release.
“Based on both the internal and external review of this case, we have been able to make positive steps in supporting our investigators on complex files, through a new Major Case Management system,” said Chief Bray. “This enhancement, which will be fully functional in the fall of 2019, will allow us to continue to deliver a high level of service to our community. The Regina Police Service is proud of the solid investigative track record we have, with some of the highest clearance rates in Western Canada.”