The British Columbia Police Complaints Commissioner’s office has opened an investigation into the conduct of 19 officers from eight separate police services. A statement said the seriousness of the alleged misconduct led to a request to assign a special police officer to the province to conduct an investigation independent of any BC police service.
Officers from the Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Delta, Surrey and Saanich police departments as well as officers from the Vancouver Transit Police are under investigation, according to an office statement.
The commissioner’s office said several complaints were reported at an undercover exercise on May 2, which was attended by officers from several municipal police forces in British Columbia as well as other agencies. .
The statement said the conduct of some officers while performing various physical acts in the proposed scenarios raised concerns that such acts could be defined as misconduct under the Police. Act.
The office says Manitoba’s Independent Investigations Unit will be the main agency and arrangements between the provinces are being finalized.
Chief of Police John Lo of the West Vancouver Police Department has been named as the disciplinary authority, although the commission stressed that the allegations have not been substantiated against any of the officers.
The office explained that the survey will look at candidates who have completed the training as well as supervising officers.
The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner is a civilian, independent body that oversees complaints, investigations and disciplinary matters involving municipal police services in British Columbia.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
