Who does Manitoba’s police watchdog represent?

Cassity Delvenne, a 24-year-old Indigenous woman, died in police custody after being arrested for impaired driving and resisting arrest in Brandon, Manitoba. A bystander video captured officers striking Delvenne multiple times as she lay on the ground. Despite these injuries, the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU), Manitoba's police oversight agency, declined to launch a full investigation into her arrest and death, citing that her injuries did not meet their definition of "serious" and that it was not in the public interest.

Critics argue that this decision undermines transparency and justice, particularly for Indigenous communities who have historically experienced state violence. The IIU, while committed to public interest, does not take public requests for investigations, which has sparked calls for a policy change to allow for greater oversight and accountability.