Under the Police Act, the Police Complaint Commissioner (“Commissioner”) has broad duties to ensure the integrity of the police discipline process and foster public confidence in policing and the handling of complaints. 

In its April 2019 Report, the Special Committee to Review the Police Complaint Process recommended the Commissioner create an online searchable database of police discipline cases to aid in decision-making and increase the level of consistency. 

In its November 2022 Report, the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act noted calls for greater transparency in public reporting on police misconduct and complaints.  It added that various organizations had expressed support for the creation of a searchable database for police misconduct.

The Commissioner has published the Discipline Decisions Digest (“Digest”) in response to these calls for easier access to information about police discipline. 

Confidentiality and Disclosure in the Public Interest

Generally speaking, the Police Act contains strict confidentiality provisions that prohibit the Commissioner from disclosing that an investigation has been or may be initiated or releasing any information relating to an investigation under the Police Act.

The Commissioner has determined it is in the public interest under section 95 of the Police Act to release anonymized summaries of all allegations of substantiated misconduct.  This is done in an effort to enhance transparency, accountability, and public confidence in policing and the discipline process.

This disclosure is also consistent with the Commissioner’s broad duties under section 177 of the Police Act to maintain records, compile information, prepare public reports, and inform, advise, and assist various participants in the discipline process.

Content of the Discipline Decisions Digest

The Digest consists of anonymized information about substantiated allegations of misconduct by municipal police officers in British Columbia. 

The Digest contains information from concluded files that were opened on or after April 1, 2010. 

The Digest was last updated on August 31, 2024.

The information in the Digest is drawn from summaries the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (“OPCC”) prepared at the times the files were concluded.  Users should be aware that practices around the characterization of misconduct and preparation of summaries may have changed over time, for example in response to adjudications or court decisions, or for other reasons.

Please contact the OPCC at info@opcc.bc.ca if you identify any errors in the information contained in the Digest.