Vancouver police officer urged hospital to admit Const. Nicole Chan the night before she died

This story incorporates distressing particulars.

A Vancouver police officer concerned in apprehending Const. Nicole Chan beneath the Psychological Well being Act the evening earlier than she died by suicide stated he tried to vary the thoughts of a physician at Vancouver Normal Hospital who launched Chan. 

Const. Warren Head described how he “advocated” for Chan’s admission to hospital as a result of he felt strongly she was a suicide threat. He stated he additionally had issues that Chan’s police expertise conducting psychological well being apprehensions gave her perception into easy methods to keep away from being admitted.

“The physician simply talked about to me that they’d a dialog with Nicole, and based mostly on the content material of that dialog, they decided that she was not a menace to herself,” stated Head. “They stated that the remedy plan she was on was applicable shifting ahead.”

“I discussed to them that she was a police officer,” he stated. “I believed that she was educated sufficient to inform the docs what they needed to listen to in order that she wouldn’t be admitted to the hospital.”

Talking on Day 4 of the B.C. Coroner’s Inquest into Chan’s loss of life, Head stated he was shocked by the docs’ determination to launch Chan as a result of, in his many experiences with apprehensions, it was one thing that nearly by no means occurred. 

“That was one of many first instances that I’ve heard, ‘No, we’re not going to confess them,’” he stated. 

In keeping with Head, he and Chan had met as soon as, a few years earlier, whereas attending a name collectively. 

Chan, 30, spent about two hours on the VGH entry and evaluation centre earlier than she was discharged at 11:35 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2019, and brought house by a VPD member. She was discovered useless the subsequent morning. 

On Wednesday, the inquest heard excerpts from a WorkSafeBC declare Chan filed months earlier than she took her life, detailing alleged sexual coercion by two supervising VPD officers. 

Chan’s allegations of sexual assault and extortion towards Sgt. David Van Patten have been investigated by the New Westminster Police, nevertheless, the B.C. Prosecution Service finally determined to not approve fees. Van Patten was ultimately dismissed from the VPD.

One other superior Chan had an intimate relationship with, Sgt. Greg McCullough, retired.

Boyfriend provides proof

On Wednesday, Jamie Gifford, Chan’s boyfriend and roommate advised coroner’s court docket that Chan had grown more and more depressed within the weeks earlier than her loss of life.

“She was very upset there was nothing getting solved over her case, and he or she felt very hopeless that she had misplaced her profession,” stated Gifford. “She was very upset that every one the those that put her on this place to lose her job have been nonetheless capable of work and will go on with their life like nothing occurred.”

Gifford stated his relationship with Chan had change into strained, and when he advised her on Jan 26, 2019, he was going to spend a while at a good friend’s home, she turned distraught and appeared to threaten suicide. 

Gifford stated a good friend known as the police, although Gifford himself didn’t suppose it was a good suggestion due to Chan’s relationship with the VPD. 

He described a non-public dialog he had with Chan earlier than she was taken to VGH by police.

“She advised me she was frightened that the particular person they have been taking her to go see was greatest mates with Dave Van Patten in HR,” stated Gifford. 

Gifford stated he left their house at his mates’ urging, taking doubtlessly harmful gadgets with him. As he was leaving, he met Chan returning, and he or she assured him she was OK, he stated.

Gifford discovered Chan’s physique when he returned to the house the subsequent morning. A suicide word was introduced in coroner’s court docket as proof. 

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For those who or somebody you understand is struggling, right here’s the place to get assist:

For those who’re frightened somebody you understand could also be prone to suicide, you need to discuss to them about it, says the Canadian Affiliation for Suicide Prevention. Listed below are some warning indicators: 

• Suicidal ideas.
• Substance abuse.
• Purposelessness.
• Anxiousness.
• Feeling trapped.
• Hopelessness and helplessness.
• Withdrawal.
• Anger.
• Recklessness.
• Temper modifications.