VANCOUVER — After the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal of serial killer Robert Pickton, a top-ranking Vancouver police officer offered an apology for the failure of police to “catch this monster sooner” and said the case “will always haunt me.”

Deputy Chief Doug LePard told a press conference Friday that he wished "from the bottom of my heart” that they could have arrested Pickton sooner, and apologized to the victims’ families.

“I wish that all of the mistakes that we made, we could undo them, and I wish that more lives would have been saved,” said LePard.

“On my behalf and on behalf of the Vancouver Police Department and all of the men and women who worked on this investigation, we say how sorry we are for your losses, and because we did not catch this monster sooner.”

LePard said it was his role to review every aspect of the investigation and find out why it took so long to arrest the accused, and promised that a report on those findings would be released within a matter of weeks.

“Many investigators poured heart and soul into the case. Still, when faced with the worst, we should have done better.”

LePard said the Vancouver police and RCMP welcome a public inquiry into questions that have arisen about the police investigation, but added that it was up to the B.C. government to decide whether to hold such an inquiry.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Al MacIntrye told reporters senior officers from Alberta had conducted a review of the investigation and that the report had been forwarded to the justice department.

He said he expects the results will be released publicly.

MacIntyre said a task force remains in place and that it will continue to investigate the report of 39 missing women from the Downtown Eastside.

Attorney-General Mike de Jong told a press conference he will be reviewing the police reports but that no decisions have yet been made on calling an inquiry.

“I’m not obviously ruling an inquiry out, but I’m not in a position to tell you that one is being called today.”

"There are very compelling arguments for why a detailed examination should take place," de Jong added. "I believe some of those arguments are expanded upon in the reports I’ve alluded to. I’ve not seen those reports yet.”

He said a decision on an inquiry will be made “soon,” but was not more specific.

OTHER CHARGES STAYED

Criminal justice branch spokesman Neil MacKenzie said that, as expected, the remaining 20 counts of first-degree murder against Pickton will be stayed by the Crown.

He said he realized some of the victims' families will not be happy with the decision, but added Pickton has received the maximum penalty under Canadian law and additional convictions cannot increase his punishment.

MacKenzie said he hopes the court ruling will provide victims’ families with “some measure of comfort and some degree of closure.

"It has been a long process to reach this stage and we realize it has been difficult and has required a great deal of patience on the part of family members.”

Gil McKinnon, who represented Pickton during his appeals, said the high court’s ruling was final and there would be no further appeals, but had no comment on the ruling.

“As counsel, we advance our arguments to the Supreme Court and then respectfully accept its decision, whether it is for or against the position we have advanced.”

kfraser@theprovince.com