Sexualized Conduct in Police Workplaces
The Police Complaint Commissioner has initiated a systemic investigation into how municipal police departments and designated units in British Columbia prevent, investigate, and address workplace‑related sexualized conduct by police officers.
Purpose of the Investigation
The goals of this systemic investigation are to:
- Examine potential patterns and contributing factors to sexualized conduct by police officers in workplace or related professional settings, specifically involving other officers, civilian employees, recruits, and potential recruits; and
- Identify meaningful and practical systems-level recommendations to prevent sexualized conduct and organizational responses, including processes under Part 11 of the Police Act.
This systemic investigation differs from individual complaint investigations, which focus on specific incidents and the conduct of particular officers. Instead, this systemic investigation looks more broadly at systemic issues, structures, and practices that may contribute to or fail to adequately address sexualized conduct.
Terms of Reference
The full Terms of Reference for this investigation, including its scope and the types of evidence to be gathered, are available here.
Trauma-Informed Approach and Participation
The OPCC is committed to conducting this investigation in a trauma‑informed manner.
While the OPCC welcomes and values information from individuals who have experienced workplace‑related sexualized conduct involving a police officer, participation is entirely voluntary. No individual will be compelled to provide a statement or participate in an interview about their experiences.
Current or former police officers or civilian employees of a B.C. municipal police department or designated unit who wish to contact the investigation team may:
- Email: systemic@opcc.bc.ca
- Leave a voicemail: 1-888-577-9710
Individuals may leave a voicemail message anonymously or provide their name and contact information if they would like a member of the investigation team to follow up with them. Please note that personal information provided to the OPCC will be treated confidentially, and no member or civilian employee will be named/identified in a final report without their express consent.
Reporting
At the conclusion of the investigation, the Police Complaint Commissioner will deliver and make public a report setting out findings and any recommendations. Status updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
The OPCC will monitor responses to recommendations and will publish public updates regarding implementation and progress.
Progress Update (July 2026)
The systemic investigation is ongoing. Work to date includes the following:
- Research and environmental scan on workplace‑related sexualized conduct
We are reviewing research on workplace‑related sexualized conduct, including past studies, reviews, and reports focused on law enforcement environments. This work is helping to identify common challenges and best practices that may be relevant to police workplaces in British Columbia. - Analysis of OPCC files
The investigation team is reviewing relevant OPCC complaint files and records. This analysis is focused on identifying patterns, recurring issues, and broader themes related to workplace‑related sexualized conduct. - Review of policies, procedures, and organizational records
We have sent records requests to all municipal police departments and designated units. The records we are requesting include relevant policies and procedures, training materials, prior reports or reviews, and available data related to this topic. We will also be preparing a records request to be sent to municipal police boards and designated boards. - Interviews with key personnel
Following the receipt of relevant records, we will identify appropriate representatives involved in the prevention, investigation, and response to workplace sexualized conduct for interviews. These may include police leadership, human resources personnel, professional standards sections, police board representatives, and union representatives. - Input from current and former police employees
Opportunities for current and former police officers and civilian employees to share their experiences and perspectives are being developed. Participation will be voluntary, and individuals will be able to provide input confidentially or anonymously. A toll-free number is now in service allowing individuals to contact the Systemic Investigation team, leave an anonymous message, or provide contact details for a call back: 1-888-577-9710. Individuals can also contact the Systemic Investigation team by email at systemic@opcc.bc.ca. Any contact details will remain confidential.
Update letters have been sent to all municipal Chiefs of Police, Chief Officers of designated units, municipal police boards, designated boards, and the President of the British Columbia Police Association.