Vancouver police are investigating the sudden death of Silas Rogers, pictured here in a Saint John High School yearbook. (CBC)The investigation into the sudden death of a 20-year-old Saint John man during the Olympics in Whistler last week could take months, say Vancouver police.

Silas Rogers died Feb. 26 after being released from police custody. He had been picked up for being drunk in a public place.

"We want to know what led up to the man's death, and certainly, as with any major investigation, we'll be looking to try to find those answers," said Const. Lindsey Houghton, of Vancouver police.

"So we'll be looking at trying to obtain any and all evidence, certainly looking to speak to people who may have information."

Whistler RCMP requested the external investigation by Vancouver police. It comes on the heels of a new policy the force announced last month for investigating its own officers.

RCMP in Whistler had arrested Rogers, a student at the University of British Columbia, on Tuesday evening for being drunk in a public place. He had been attending Olympic events that day.

RCMP said Rogers fell several times while in lockup, and he was released Wednesday morning.

About 23 hours later, a friend discovered Rogers unconscious in an apartment on the UBC campus. He died later in hospital.

New RCMP policy

It's not known if Rogers received medical attention while in the Whistler jail.

Police plan to review the jail's video surveillance tapes.

"At this time, we don't have details, because it is under investigation, but if there comes a time when we'll be able to release that, we'll certainly make that public," said Houghton.

Investigations into death or serious injury relating to time spent in custody are to be external, independent and impartial.

Houghton said this is the second external investigation Vancouver police have been asked to conduct for the RCMP. It's the first since the new policy was launched.

Rogers graduated from Saint John High School in 2007.

Joel Seale says he's still in shock over the death of his long-time friend. (CBC)Long-time friend Joel Seale remembers him as a talented athlete who loved to make people laugh.

"I can say with complete honesty that there's not a person who wouldn't like him," said Seale. "Just his personality. The way he was, he was always smiling, always put you in a good mood. If you were down, he'd say something to put a smile on your face."

Seale said he kept in touch with Rogers after he left for university in Vancouver.

"Every time I'd see him out of high school … he'd be coming back from school, and we'd hang out. Now he's gone.

"[I'm] kind of still in shock. Like I still don't believe it to the point that it's that sudden."

Rogers' former employer, Vic Fitzgerald, who had hired him to work at the batting cages in west Saint John, said when he heard the news, he thought there must have been some kind of mistake. Then he spoke to Rogers' father.

"They're devastated, obviously. His dad is devastated. What can you say? It's one of these things you'd never expect … but in life these things happen to people, and it's sad and unfortunate and you can't understand it, because you're not going through it yourself, but you can imagine the devastation when you get a call like that."

Rogers' funeral is scheduled for noon Thursday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Saint John.