VPD Const. Nicole Chan was released from hospital hours before suicide, inquest hears

A coroner's inquest into Nicole Chan's death heard testimony Thursday about the Vancouver police officer's visit to the hospital just hours before she took her own life in 2019.

Warning: This story contains detail about suicide that may be distressing. A ist of resources for those struggling with suicidal thought or other mental health challenges is included at the end. 

A coroner's inquest into Nicole Chan's death heard testimony Thursday about the Vancouver police officer's visit to the hospital just hours before she took her own life in 2019.

The 30-year-old constable had been despondent in the period before her death, the inquest has heard. The outside police force investigating sexual blackmail allegations she made against fellow officer Sgt. Dave Van Patten had recommended charges, but Crown counsel declined to prosecute. Van Patten remained on the job while she was on medical leave.

When Chan’s boyfriend Jamie Gifford found her in possession of a knife, scissors and a dog leash fashioned into a noose on the evening of Jan. 26, 2019, he contacted his best friend Brandon Gray, who testified Gifford was concerned Nicole was suicidal.

“She was having some problems, wanting to hurt herself, a mental episode, a full breakdown. And we had to call 911,” Gray said in an interview with CTV.

Five officers with the Vancouver Police Department responded to that 911 call, and an agitated Chan was detained under the Mental Health Act. She was brought by ambulance to Vancouver General Hospital, but the jury heard she quickly convinced doctors there that she was fine, and they decided not to admit her against her will.

One of the responding officers Const. Warren Head testified he thought Chan was telling hospital staff what they wanted to hear.