Training, staffing debated at coroner’s inquest into death of Tatyanna Harrison

Tatyanna Harrison is seen in a handout image.

A coroner’s inquest examining the death of 20-year-old Tatyanna Harrison heard Wednesday that additional staffing, resources and standardized training could help improve missing person investigations in Vancouver.

The testimony came on the final day of witnesses at the inquest, which is examining the circumstances surrounding Harrison’s death and what lessons can be learned to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Insp. Duane Van Beek, who leads the Vancouver Police Department’s missing persons unit, testified that the city sees an average of 472 missing person reports each month. He said the unit currently consists of seven full-time detectives and two temporary investigators.

Van Beek told the inquest he believes more standardized training is needed for patrol officers across the force.

“I’m astounded that there isn’t training in this kind of area,” he said.

Van Beek testified the department is working to implement more standardized training across the force, and said he would also like to see mandatory training available through provincial policing centres.

However, another witness told the inquest that training was made available when B.C.’s missing person standards were introduced roughly a decade ago.

Lucy Vallieres with the province’s Policing and Security Branch testified that between 2016 and 2019, police agencies were provided access to training developed to support awareness of provincial standards surrounding missing person investigations.

After 2019, Vallieres said it became the responsibility of individual police agencies to ensure those standards were being followed.

Van Beek also told the inquest the missing persons unit has improved in recent years, pointing to advancements in cybercrime investigations and the addition of an Indigenous liaison officer. He is, however, recommending the hiring of more dedicated staff to the unit.

Harrison’s death has drawn significant public scrutiny.

Her body was found on a dry-docked yacht in Richmond in May 2022. An initial coroner’s report attributed her death to fentanyl toxicity, but officials later determined the cause of death was sepsis.

Harrison’s mother, Natasha Harrison, reported her daughter missing the day after her body was found. She has been critical of the police investigation and response, saying she was left searching for answers on her own.

Earlier this year, a police complaint investigation found two Vancouver police officers committed misconduct in their handling of the missing person file.

The inquest has now concluded witness testimony. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations before returning recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.

While the jury can classify Harrison’s death as accidental, natural, suicide or homicide, it cannot assign blame.