Review of Matters Related to the Death of Hospitalman (HN) Christopher Purcell, U.S. Navy

摘要

We initiated this review on March 9, 2009, in response to a request from Representative Mark Steven Kirk (R - IL) on behalf of the parents of HN Christopher Purcell following his suicide on January 27, 2008, while in custody of Navy law enforcement officials at Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB), Brunswick, ME. Mr. and Mrs. Purcell questioned: (1) no policies or procedures changed in response to the incident; (2) each of the first responders retained their rank and still serve in the same capacity they did that evening; (3) the first responders were not held accountable, nor is the Navy showing accountability, and (4) the Navy closed the case in September 2008 and 'will not tell us anything else.' Representative Kirk wrote to DoD Legislative Affairs, and they routed the matter to DoD Inspector General (IG) for action. In completing our review, we focused on these specific questions: * Did Department of Navy (DoN) officials investigate the incident in accordance with DoD and DoN guidance; * Did DoN officials determine whether law enforcement training or qualifications were factors that contributed to Purcell's death while in custody; * Did DoN officials implement adequate corrective measures to prevent future occurrences; * Did DoN officials properly disclose information in response to Mr. Purcell's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.