Media Releases

June 13, 2022

Victoria - The Police Complaint Commissioner has initiated an investigation pursuant to the BC Police Act into the conduct of 19 police officers from the Abbotsford Police Department, Vancouver Police Department, New Westminster Police Department, Delta Police Department, Surrey Police Service, Saanich Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Victoria Police Department. View Release (.pdf)

June 7, 2022

Victoria – The Police Complaint Commissioner has completed his review of the disciplinary decision which resulted in discipline of two VPD officers for committing misconduct following the arrest and handcuffing of an Indigenous man and his granddaughter at a Bank of Montreal in Vancouver, BC, on December 20, 2019. The Commissioner confirms the outcome issued by retired Provincial Court Judge, Mr. Brian Neal, Q.C.. View Release (.pdf)

November 4, 2021

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) 2020-2021 Annual Report was tabled in the Legislature today. The Report highlights the importance of police boards in ensuring the police are accountable to civilian authority. The Report also highlights the investigations and disciplinary processes into complaints and allegations of misconduct involving municipal police officers in B.C. The work of the OPCC focuses in large part on ensuring that every complaint lodged against a municipal police officer in B.C. is dealt with in a fair and transparent manner. View Release (.pdf)

September 2, 2021

A Public Hearing into the misconduct allegations against Constable Diaz and former Constable Hughes of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP), will now resume following a decision by the BC Court of Appeal. The Public Hearing is scheduled to resume on September 7 and 8, 2021, starting at 9:30am. View Release (.pdf)

April 23, 2021

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) has ordered a review into the findings of a discipline proceeding relating to allegations of Abuse of Authority, Discreditable Conduct, Neglect of Duty, and Deceit against a Vancouver police officer. View Release (.pdf)

January 5, 2021

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) will initiate a Police Act investigation into the fatal shooting in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver today by Vancouver Police officers. View Release (.pdf)

December 17, 2020

With the decision of the B.C. Prosecution Service declining criminal charges in the matter of the death of Mr. Myles Gray after the use of force by Vancouver Police Officers, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) will now be proceeding with a disciplinary-conduct investigation into the actions of the officers. A mandatory external Police Act investigation was ordered in August 2015, but was suspended while the criminal investigation was underway. View Release (.pdf)

December 8, 2020

Criminal charges against two Vancouver Police officers have been approved by the B.C. Prosecution Service following a referral by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC). After being made aware of a use of force incident involving Vancouver Police officers and a member of the public, Mr. Jamiel Moore-Williams, the OPCC determined that an investigation into the force used by police was required. The RCMP were appointed to conduct this investigation and carried out a criminal investigation into this matter. The RCMP completed their investigation but did not refer the matter to the B.C. Prosecution Service for consideration of criminal charges. On February 10, 2020, upon review of the RCMP investigation, the Police Complaint Commissioner considered that one or more officers may have committed criminal offences and referred the matter directly to the B.C. Prosecution Service under section 111 of the Police Act. Additionally, a disciplinary-conduct investigation under the Police Act will take place but is suspended pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. In order to protect the integrity of those proceedings the OPCC will not provide further comment while they are underway. View Release (.pdf)

December 8, 2020

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner’s (OPCC) 2019-2020 Annual Report was tabled in the Legislature of British Columbia today. The Report highlights the importance of independent oversight of investigations into police misconduct and the critical need for legislative reform to promote more accountable policing. View Release (.pdf)

June 30, 2020

As a result of a complaint filed from a member of the public, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) has initiated an external investigation into allegations of misconduct related to the Delta Police Department’s handling of a case involving the spouse of the department’s Chief Constable. View Release (.pdf)