Article content

Dominique Bernier got a call Monday, advising her that prosecutors have made a decision on whether to lay charges against the person who shot and killed her son. She will learn the decision on Wednesday.

But Bernier said she has little confidence that justice will prevail.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Ex-cops dominate new agency that investigates police shootings Back to video

Her 17-year-old son, Brandon Maurice, was shot and killed by a Sûreté du Québec officer in November after a police chase near Maniwaki, Quebec. His family suspects the officer used excessive force. Under the system in place at the time, an outside force – in this case, Montreal police – investigated cases when a person was killed by a police officer.

“Police officers protect each other,” Bernier said in an interview. And it will be the same with the new system, she added. “It will change nothing. It can’t be impartial if police are investigating police.”

On Monday, a new agency took over investigations of deaths and injuries involving on-duty police officers in Quebec even as some groups questioned whether the body, dominated by former police officers, can provide the neutrality that critics have long demanded.