Inquest into death of Vancouver police officer who died by suicide to begin Monday

Correction: A previous version of this story reported an allegation, initially contained in the Chan family's lawsuit, that David Van Patten had threatened to expose Nicole Chan's relationship with Greg McCullough. The lawsuit has since been amended to allege Van Patten threatened to expose Chan's alleged relationship with Const. Derrick Kaine. A previous version also reported that McCullough resigned from the Vancouver Police Department after being investigated for misconduct, but he retired.

A coroner's inquest into the death of Const. Nicole Chan, a Vancouver police officer who died by suicide four years ago, will begin Monday – but several key people will not be testifying.

Two men named in a lawsuit from Chan's family, David Van Patten and Derrick Kaine, are not on the inquiry's witness list, nor is Greg McCullough.

Both Van Patten and McCullough, two former sergeants with the Vancouver Police Department, had sexual relationships with Chan while she was a constable, according to internal investigations completed after her suicide. McCullough ultimately retired from the department while Van Patten was dismissed.

The Chan family's lawsuit alleges Kaine had a sexual relationship with her as well, and that Van Patten used knowledge of that relationship to blackmail her.

None of the claims contained in the lawsuit have been proven court.

B.C.’s chief coroner has the power to hold an inquest if she believes "the public has an interest in being informed of the circumstances surrounding the death." The inquest into Chan's death is scheduled to begin Monday at the Burnaby coroners' court.

A jury will hear evidence from witnesses and then will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future.