News Releases

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)

December 12, 2018

The Police Complaint Commissioner would like to share the following message: “I wish to congratulate the Special Committee of the legislature on their selection of Clayton Pecknold as the next Commissioner. Clayton is a well-respected public service leader and he will bring to our office an entrenched public interest perspective. We will both work towards a smooth transition into his appointment.” View Release (.pdf)

November 20, 2018

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner wishes to advise that the 2017/2018 Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner Annual Report is available on our website. View Release (.pdf)

November 16, 2018

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner wishes to advise the media that the Review on the Record into the disciplinary decision involving Constable Byron Ritchie of the Delta Police Department will commence on November 20, 2018. The Review on the Record is scheduled to convene on November 20, 2018, at the Robson Square Courthouse, Room #109 at 10:00 am, in Vancouver. View Release (.pdf)

October 2, 2018

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner wishes to advise the media that the Review on the Record involving Constable Geoffrey Young of the Delta Police Department, before the adjudicator, Retired Judge Carole Lazar, will commence on October 5, 2018. The Review on the Record is scheduled to convene on October 5, 2018, at the Robson Square Courthouse, Room #109 at 9:30 am, in Vancouver. View Release (.pdf)

October 2, 2018

Public Hearing into the conduct of Constable Diaz and former Constable Hughes. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner wishes to advise the media that the scheduled hearing dates of October 9, 10, 11 and 12, 2018, at the Robson Square Courthouse, Room #109 at 09:30am, in Vancouver have been cancelled. Further updates regarding this matter will be provided at a later date. View Release (.pdf)

October 1, 2018

On September 26th, 2018, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) released a public report confirming the decisions of the two retired judges as final and conclusive. In the Commissioner’s review of the Mayors’ discipline process (at page 40 of the report), he quoted from the covering letter that the internal investigator sent to the Mayors, dated November 16, 2015. It seems that the Commissioner’s reference to that letter, without the content of the entire letter, has created some confusion as to when the Mayors knew about allegations of bullying and harassment against former chief Frank Elsner. For the purposes of clarity, the Commissioner is releasing the letter in its entirety, except for two portions that are not relevant, which have been removed. The letter is attached to the Media Statement. View Release (.pdf)