Media Releases

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)

June 19, 2019

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner wishes to advise that the adjudicator will present his decision for the Public Hearing into the allegations of police misconduct arising from an incident on March 25, 2016, involving Constables Mark Lobel and Viet Hoang of the Vancouver Police Department, on June 26, 2019, at 10:30 am at the Vancouver Robson Square Courthouse in Courtroom #109. View Release (.pdf)

May 30, 2019

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has ordered an investigation into the conduct of police officer(s) involved in an incident which occurred during an anti-pipeline demonstration outside the Opus Hotel in Vancouver, BC, on May 22, 2019. The incident was recorded on video and reported in the media. According to the video, during the protest a woman approaches a male standing next to a uniformed Vancouver police officer. The woman in the video steps forward and appears to make contact with one of the men, the woman is pushed back and falls to the ground. As the video was posted on social media and reported in the news, the Police Complaint Commissioner has determined that it is in the public interest, pursuant to sec 95 of the Police Act, to disclose that an investigation has been ordered into this incident. View Release (.pdf)

May 17, 2019

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner addresses a matter before the BC Court of Appeal, involving information about serious allegations of misconduct by former Vancouver Police Detective Jim Fisher. The Police Complaint Commissioner considers that it is in the public interest to inform the public as to the status of the Police Act investigation into the conduct of former Detective Constable Fisher. View Release (.pdf)

April 29, 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 Tyler McCluskie of the Vancouver Police Department will commence on May 3, 2019. The Review on the Record is scheduled to convene on May 3, 2019, at the Robson Square Courthouse, Room #109 at 9:30 a.m., in Vancouver. View Release (.pdf)

April 11, 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 in the near future. A date has yet to be determined. View Release (.pdf)