Report critical of N.S. workplace drowning investigation

Andrew Nasdowski was just 26 when he drowned in this reservoir near Sheet Harbour. While working, he'd swum out to retrieve a piece of equipment that had drifted away. His sister, Nicole, has never given up looking for answers in her brother's death. She was highly critical of how the RCMP handled the initial investigation. It wasn't treated like a crime scene at all. It was treated like an accidental drowning. And the report really highlights that. When the RCMP initially rejected her concerns about the case, she went to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, which has just released its report. The commission finds that the criminal investigation into the death of the complainant's brother was grossly inadequate and unreasonable. The report reads in part, it lacked the basic hallmarks of criminal investigation and instead appeared entirely focused on transferring responsibility for any investigation to the provincial labor inspector. One of Nasdowski's Complaints were that the police handed control of the reservoir back to Nova Scotia Power right away, rather than treating it as a potential crime scene. The report recommends better training for Mounties on how to handle situations like this. In a statement to CBC News, Superintendent Don Mosier offered an apology. We are truly sorry for the distress and frustration the Nasdowski family experienced during an already devastating time. I think at this point an apology is not going to obviously cut it or take back anything that's happened over the past six years. But at the same time, it is nice to finally get that recognition and acknowledgement. The RCMP says it's committed to improving training around workplace death investigations and the protection of potential crime scenes. After consulting with the Crown, RCMP have determined criminal charges would not likely lead to convictions in this case. But Nova Scotia Power and two subcontractors had already been fined a total of $260,000 for violating occupational health and safety rules in Andrew Nasdowski's death. Blair Rhodes, CBC News, Halifax.