Charlottetown police not negligent in Tyler Knockwood's death, investigation reveals 

Warning: This story deals with serious mental health concerns and suicide.

An external police investigation into the January 2023 death of Tyler Knockwood has found police were not negligent in the death of the 34-year-old Indigenous man.

But his wife, Laura Knockwood, says she's disappointed with the findings and plans to continue to push for answers. 

"I know he was denying help because he was in a paranoid manic state and he didn't trust anybody," Knockwood said, holding back tears.

"So, the only people who could have gotten him the help were the city police. They were the only people with the power to take him to the hospital and I don't understand what difference it was to them. I know it was no difference to them but to my family, it cost his life so how can you tell me that they did their job." 

Knockwood died by suicide inside Province House, the historic seat of the P.E.I. Legislature last January. He had been part of the team working to restore the building. 

Police were called to the Knockwood home three separate times in the hours leading up to his death.

But instead of taking the man, who Knockwood describes as her best friend, to the hospital, they dropped him off downtown. 

Early the next morning, police returned this time to tell Knockwood her husband had ended his life.

"I had hoped that there would be some closure," said Knockwood.

"It's pretty devastating just to hear that, that, you know, they did their job. I mean you didn't because he's not here. Tell my children that. They don't have a father anymore.

"There's no justice for Tyler in there, there's no justice for us in there."

Knockwood complained to Charlottetown Police Chief Brad MacConnell.

Because of the high profile nature of the complaint, and the number of officers involved, MacConnell asked for an outside police agency to investigate.