In New Brunswick, a woman sustained significant injuries, including a broken jaw, while fleeing from a domestic violence situation, according to the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT). This case has raised concerns regarding police training in dealing with abuse victims.
The incident transpired when the woman reached out to a detox center in Fredericton, indicating she wasn't in need of detoxification but required a safe escape from her abusive home. During her call, she mentioned grappling with suicidal thoughts and medication use. Consequently, the detox unit alerted Fredericton Police to conduct a wellness check.
Bodycam footage analyzed by SIRT reveals that the woman was clearly distressed upon officers' arrival. She requested the officers to leave, expressing discomfort with male presence and suspecting her ex-husband had called them.
Although the officers sought assistance from the Mobile Crisis Unit, this was retracted when the woman locked herself in a bedroom. Subsequently, police restrained her under the Mental Health Act and transported her to Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.
At the hospital, she remained handcuffed in a seclusion room. During her resistance, she fell and suffered a fractured jaw alongside a laceration that required stitches, and several chipped teeth. SIRT concluded that the officers' response did not warrant criminal charges, but experts have called attention to the necessity of trauma-informed approaches in such scenarios.
Professor Carmen Gill from the University of New Brunswick noted the potential for this incident to erode trust in law enforcement, possibly deterring future help-seeking by victims. She advocated for adherence to Canadian trauma-informed response standards to minimize harm to such individuals.
Sloane Rees, head of a transition home in Woodstock, concurred, stating that signs of trauma—such as preferring female officers or calm environments—should be acknowledged and honored. She expressed uncertainty regarding the woman's referral to any support services post-incident.
A spokesperson for Fredericton police affirmed that all protocols were followed, highlighting ongoing efforts in training and partnerships with social workers and community organizations in support of domestic violence victims.
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