Media Releases

January 14, 2020

Victoria - The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) has ordered an investigation into the detention and arrest of an Indigenous man and his 12-year-old granddaughter at a Vancouver branch of the Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) which occurred on December 20, 2019. The OPCC became aware of the matter through media reporting and complaints from the public. Information was requested from the Vancouver Police Department and as a result, the Police Complaint Commissioner has concluded an investigation into the matter is required. The Police Act provides an authority for the Police Complaint Commissioner to order an investigation into the conduct of a police officer if the officer’s conduct would, if substantiated, constitute misconduct. The investigation will include any other potential misconduct or attempted misconduct which may have occurred. The investigation will also consider any Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Police Board policies, procedures or training that may be a factor in this incident. Given the nature of this matter and the public comments of the Vancouver Police Department, the Commissioner has also determined that it is in the public interest the investigation be conducted by an agency other than the Vancouver Police Department. The Delta Police Department has been ordered to conduct an independent investigation into this matter. As this matter is under investigation no further information will be released at this time. View Release (.pdf)

January 9, 2020

A senior Vancouver Police Officer has been ordered dismissed for Discreditable Conduct related to misconduct occurring during an inappropriate relationship with a junior Vancouver Police Officer. As has been previously reported, Vancouver Police Constable Nicole Chan tragically committed suicide in January 2019. An investigation ordered by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner and conducted by the New Westminster Police Department revealed that Sergeant D. Van Patten was in an inappropriate relationship with Constable Chan while also serving as a Human Resources Officer for the Vancouver Police Department. On January 2, 2020, the Discipline Authority, Chief Officer Dave Jones of the Transit Police rendered a discipline decision concluding that three allegations of Discreditable Conduct were substantiated. Chief Officer Jones imposed penalties which included an order that Sergeant Van Patten be dismissed from the Vancouver Police Department. Police officers facing dismissal have an automatic right to request the decision be reviewed by a retired judge through a Public Hearing. In addition, the Police Complaint Commissioner may on his own initiative order a Public Hearing if he considers it in the public interest to do so. To date no determination has been made. View Release (.pdf)

November 7, 2019

The Police Complaint Commissioner has called a Public Hearing into allegations of police misconduct involving Constable Eric Ludeman and Constable Neil Logan of the Vancouver Police Department as a result of a complaint of excessive use of force and improper entry into the private residence of Mr. Vladamir Tchaikoun and his family. After investigation by the Victoria Police Department the matter was ultimately referred to a retired judge for review. In a subsequent discipline proceeding, retired Judge Brian Neal, Q.C. determined that although the entry into the private residence was unlawful, the police officers did not commit misconduct. Complainants are not afforded the opportunity to present oral evidence at discipline proceedings and Mr. Tchaikoun requested the Police Complaint Commissioner arrange a Public Hearing. The Commissioner considered this request and other factors and determined that it is in the public interest to arrange a Public Hearing. Upon the recommendation of the Associate Chief Justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court, retired Provincial Court Judge Carol Baird Ellan is appointed to preside as Adjudicator in these proceedings, pursuant to section 142(2) of the Police Act. A date for the Public Hearing will be determined in the future. Details may be found on the “Decisions” page of the OPCC’s webpage, located at opcc.bc.ca. View Release (.pdf)

October 22, 2019

The Annual Report of the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, tabled with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly this week, provides an overview of misconduct involving municipal police officers in B.C. Investigations of police officers for misconduct are highlighted with penalties ranging from verbal warnings to suspension without pay and demotion. Three police officers were dismissed during the period covered by the report. Other areas noted include “service and policy” matters referred to police boards such as the use of “Street Checks”, the treatment of prisoners and the deployment of police officers for private activities. The Annual Report, including Appendices, is available at: https://opcc.bc.ca/reports/annual-report/ View Release (.pdf)

October 2, 2019

A Police Act investigation into the off-duty conduct of two municipal police officers while in Cuba has been remitted to a disciplinary process. Under the oversight of the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, the RCMP conducted an investigation into allegations of discreditable conduct occurring while Vancouver Police Constable Mark Simms and Port Moody Police Constable Jordan Long were vacationing in Cuba. A preliminary decision by the External Discipline Authority, Chief Officer Dave Jones of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, determined that there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a disciplinary process, which includes a discipline proceeding. If misconduct is proven to have occurred, the External Discipline Authority may impose a range of disciplinary or corrective measures up to and including dismissal. View Release (.pdf)

September 27, 2019

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner wishes to advise the media that the Review on the Record into the disciplinary decision involving Constable Marty Steen of the Victoria Police Department will commence on October 8, 2019. The Review on the Record is scheduled to convene on October 8, 2019, at the Robson Square Courthouse, Room #109 at 11:00 a.m., in Vancouver, BC. View Release (.pdf)

August 27, 2019

On June 12, 2019, Saanich Police Chief Scott Green, as the External Discipline Authority, issued his findings into allegations that former Delta Police Department Inspector Varun Naidu engaged in inappropriate sexual communications with a woman interested in employment as a police officer. Former Inspector Naidu had contacted the woman through social media, initially communicating about potential employment as a Police Officer, but later engaged in communications of a sexual nature, both via text and in person. During the course of the Police Act investigation, former Inspector Naidu provided false or misleading evidence when investigators asked about these communications. The External Discipline Authority determined that former Inspector Naidu had committed misconduct and imposed a penalty of dismissal. He found that former Inspector Naidu’s conduct was a “deliberate and calculating effort to establish safeguards that would enable him to engage in a covert and sexually explicit relationship with [the woman].” Former Inspector Naidu was “in a position of trust and authority by virtue of being a male, a police officer, a senior officer and someone who could have significant influence on [the woman’s] career aspirations.” With respect to providing false or misleading evidence to an investigator, the External Discipline Authority found that such conduct undermines the reputation of the department and the profession, and has a significant adverse impact on public confidence in police. The Police Complaint Commissioner has decided not to call a Public Hearing. He agrees with the findings and has determined that the nature and seriousness of this matter have been addressed through a thorough, professional investigation and appropriate sanction. Former Inspector Naidu retired prior to the discipline hearing and did not attend but his employment records will reflect that he was dismissed from the Delta Police Department. View Release (.pdf)

August 6, 2019

A senior Vancouver Police Officer has been disciplined for accessing sensitive information for a personal purpose and disclosing it to unauthorized persons. On July 18, 2019, an independant adjudicator issued a judgement into the unauthorized access and release of sensitive police information, including information protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). A senior Officer of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) was found to have accessed and disclosed the information for a personal purpose. View Release (.pdf)

June 27, 2019

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) wishes to address a matter that has been reported by the media about the tragic suicide of Vancouver Police Constable Nicole Chan. As has been previously reported in the media, a disciplinary process is currently underway into the conduct of a senior police officer of the Vancouver Police Department in relation to allegations of police misconduct associated with Constable Chan. This process is still ongoing and has not been concluded. As this matter remains ongoing and to ensure fairness to all persons involved, no further comment will be made until the conclusion of the discipline proceeding and the OPCC has had the opportunity to review the decision of the external Discipline Authority. View Release (.pdf)

June 24, 2019

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) will be proceeding with a mandatory external investigation into the serious injury of a member of the public following the use of a Police Service Dog on September 19, 2016. The nature of this investigation will be to investigate and assess any training, policy or allegations of professional misconduct as defined by section 77 of the Police Act. View Release (.pdf)