INQUEST JURY RECOMMENDS BETTER TRAINING

Woman Died in Police Cell

Fifteen months after Tracee Ann Riches died suddenly in police
custody, authorities still don't know how she died or how the tragedy
could have been prevented.

Riches died in Victoria police cells on Feb. 7, 2006, more than a day
after she was arrested for violating a court order to stay out of the
so-called red zone in downtown Victoria.

"It's a frustrating file for us. She was with us for 30 hours," said
Victoria police Insp. Clark Russell. "The autopsy was inconclusive.
There was no obvious cause of death."

A coroner's jury that wrapped up its deliberations last week issued
four recommendations to Victoria police. Two recommendations relate
to making sure all "relevant personnel" are trained in the use of
life-saving first-aid equipment.

The jury found that first-aid equipment in police cells was
incorrectly maintained and that staff weren't clear on how to use
life-saving devices such as the portable defibrillator.

The jury also call on police to refine their search procedures and
"provide police-issued clothing to all prisoners that are booked into cells."

But Russell said the call for police-issued clothing is "problematic
for a whole bunch of reasons," including the prospect a prisoner
might become combative with police.

"Not everybody co-operates with police in cells," Russell said. "If
somebody doesn't want to take their clothes off, what do you do?"

Police-issued clothing would allow officers to search seams and
hidden pockets for contraband, but Russell said body cavities are
often the first choice of prisoners looking to hide drugs, a reality
that raises legal issues for police.

"The court has said all searches are illegal," Russell said, adding
that strip searches have to be conducted by medically trained person
with special constable powers. "They may or may not not be available."

Even a more thorough search might not have prevented Riches' death,
since it's unclear whether she succumbed to drugs or the wear and
tear of years of drug addiction.

Russell said he first met Riches when he started working as police
officer in Victoria 29 years ago. She was well-known in the street
community as a colourful, feisty character.

"She was someone I knew quite well," he said. "I kind of liked her,
but she lived a hard life."