Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team has concluded its investigation into the way police handled the case involving James Gamble.
Gamble was found dead inside a home in February while police were investigating an alleged plot to attack the Halifax Shopping Centre on Valentine’s Day. His parents went public Wednesday, begging for answers to their many questions.
As a result, SIRT says its report may come sooner than expected.
“I know in my heart, he wouldn't have gone through with it. I know he wouldn't have,” said Patti Cody, Gamble’s mother.
Cody's son took his own life as police surrounded her home. He was accused of being part of an alleged plot to commit mass murder.
“I just remember kicking the door open and running into the snow, screaming,” Cody said.
Gamble’s parents say they have many questions, but if they could have only one answer, they want to know why they weren't allowed to call their son.
On Wednesday, police told a CTV News producer his parents couldn’t call him for safety reasons.
“That could jeopardize part of the investigation that police are ongoing in. And it's to have the safety of members there on the scene and the safety of the public around them,” said Const. Mark Skinner of the Nova Scotia RCMP.
SIRT has investigated the police handling of the case, and is now preparing a public report.
“That is a matter where the death may have arisen from the actions of police so we have to investigate the actions of the police that led up to that discovery,” said SIRT director Ron MacDonald.
MacDonald says in the coming weeks, information will be released regarding how police dealt with Gamble and how the death came about.
But he says even if mistakes were made, there may not be criminal charges.
“Criminal liability in a situation depends on committing a specific act or omitting to do something that it's your duty to do that rises to the level of criminal behavior,” MacDonald said.
Gamble's parents are also upset about the difficulties accessing information.
“The information they've been provided is what we can give them,” said Skinner.
They say they tried to file a complaint, but were told that had to be done within six months of the incident. They were a month too late.
“That was a slap in the face because to us it's not a one-time complaint against one person. It's been ongoing,” Cody said.
Police say, while there is a time limit on complaints against municipal police, the family can still complain about the RCMP, but the parents say no one told them that.
In fact, they say they haven't heard from their police liaison officer in more than two months.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell
