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The death of Orion Hutchinson has been especially painful because a police officer is involved, but the off-duty Mountie under suspicion in the matter has not received any special treatment, Delta's police chief says.

Mr. Hutchinson, 21, died last Saturday night on a quiet street in the community of Tsawwassen when his motorcycle was hit by a Jeep driven by an RCMP officer, who later failed a breathalyzer test, police say. Police are recommending impaired driving charges against him.

"It is particularly difficult for the family and extended community to process a tragedy when a police officer is the subject of the investigation," Jim Cessford, chief constable for the Delta police, told a news conference. "It challenges the standards and esteem that are placed on those who swear to serve and protect the public and enforce and uphold the law."

As Mr. Hutchinson's distraught mother, sister, step-father and other family members looked on from a table beside his podium, Mr. Cessford noted: "At times such as this, we are reminded that police officers are human and are not immune to making mistakes."

But he said the officer will not receive preferential treatment, saying he was "quite disappointed" with a reporters' suggestion that this might be the case.

Police have not officially named the officer, now suspended with pay, but he has been identified as Benjamin Monty Robinson, a member of the Integrated Security Unit for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was also among four officers involved in a confrontation last October with Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport. Mr. Dziekanski died after being tasered during the incident. The officers may face charges for their conduct.

Investigators have not named the officer, nor was he held in custody after the Saturday accident.

Mr. Cessford said police can hold suspects for only some reasons, including the need to establish identity, prevent a continuation or repeat of the offence, or to ensure the safety of victims or witnesses - thresholds that did not apply on Saturday night.

"That's what Canadian law tells us and those rules apply to everyone."

He flatly refused to discuss aspects of Saturday's incident that have been widely reported, including suggestions that the officer left the scene after the accident.

"If ... the case was lost because of a legal technicality because of something I did today, I wonder if you would be as forgiving of me then."

In a second case of a Lower Mainland officer in trouble with the law, RCMP acknowledged yesterday that a 47-year-old member of the New Westminster Police Department collided with a highway sign in North Vancouver on Oct. 16 while driving alone in an unmarked police vehicle. She was arrested and released. Police said they would recommend charges of impaired driving, although the Crown would make the final decision.

CTV News identified the officer as Tomi Hamner, a secondary-school liaison officer.

"This particular officer was dealt with in a manner that is consistent with every impaired driver," RCMP Corporal Peter Thiessen told a news conference. He noted that no criminal charges have been laid in the case. "We, as a routine, do not forward information [to the media] on impaired driving cases."

Mr. Hutchinson's family gave statements at the Delta news conference that steered clear of controversies in the case. They paid tribute to the young man as a music buff, lover of nature, avid reader and "a philosopher and deep thinker."

He was supposed to start a job on Monday after graduating from a trades program. "He never made it to that first day," said his grandmother, Faye Daly, reading from a statement written by Mr. Hutchinson's mother, Judith, and sister, Daria.