‘Unfolding incident’ involves Burnaby RCMP officer killed on duty

Burnaby RCMP is asking the public to avoid Canada Way between Boundary Road and Willingdon Avenue due to an unfolding incident.

Police say there doesn’t appear to be any risk to the public and more information will be released shortly.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has confirmed to the Beacon that it has been deployed to the area. The police watchdog is called out in cases where a member of the public may have suffered serious harm or death as a result of police actions.

However, a report from The Globe & Mail says the IIO would not confirm whether a suspect in this incident was injured or killed.

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for BC, Mike Farnworth, sent out a tweet this afternoon,  confirming the incident involved a Burnaby RCMP officer who “sacrificed her life in the course of duty.”

Mayor Mike Hurley told the Beacon that he doesn’t have too many details at this time, “but we’re all devastated, of course, by the loss of an RCMP officer, and [I’m] just thinking of the family, the RCMP officers and those who are on scene and, [who] witnessed such a thing, and it’s devastating for all involved,” he stated.

Hurley asked the public to “be respectful about the RCMP officer and to those who were on scene … until we find out all the information before jumping to conclusions.”

This is a developing story. More to come …