External party to investigate Victoria police corruption complaint
The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board is assigning a third-party investigator to conduct a probe into corruption within the Victoria Police Department.
The investigation follows the implosion of a major drug prosecution after a court record revealed VicPD’s efforts to conceal an allegedly corrupt officer’s involvement in the case.
Board co-chair Barb Desjardins would not disclose who will conduct the investigation.
“This will be going external and I don’t want to convey any more information at this time until those agencies are contacted,” Desjardins said in an interview with CTV News.
The board’s governance committee made the call during a private meeting on Tuesday morning. Paul Schachter, a former board member who filed the Police Act complaint that prompted the investigation, believes the discussion should have been public.
“The public is entitled to hear what each individual member of the police board thinks about how this complaint should be investigated,” said Schachter, a retired lawyer.
“It befuddles me why they think this should be in closed session.”
Desjardins cited confidentiality concerns because the complaint is tied to a misconduct investigation against an officer involved in the alleged cover-up. She noted committee meetings are always private.
“In order to deal with this issue, given the sensitivity of the complaint that it’s tied to, this would’ve been in-camera whether it was at committee meeting or it was at the board meeting,” Desjardins said.
The board’s first meeting since the corruption controversy made headlines happened on Feb. 27.
The bungling of the $30-million drug bust didn’t even earn a mention — at least, not during the public portion of the meeting. Jeff Lawson, the team commander for the drug investigation, was in attendance, so it’s possible the corruption concerns were discussed behind closed doors.
“Everything that’s done in secret undermines the integrity and trust,” Schachter said.
“I know from my time on the police board that people really don’t want their actions subject to public scrutiny; that it’s so much easier to have discussions if you don’t think anybody’s watching you.”
More information about the governance committee’s decision to assign a third-party investigator will be shared at the board’s next public meeting on March 19, Desjardins said.
“We are taking this very seriously,” she said. “As such, it’s really important to make sure that this investigation is able to occur in an appropriate manner.”
Once the investigation concludes, the results will be shared publicly, she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPs to face new political realities on their return to Ottawa
On Monday, Parliamentarians will return to the familiar stone walls of West Block in Ottawa to find the political landscape has shifted significantly.
Air Canada, pilots still far apart as strike notice deadline approaches
Labour talks between Air Canada and its pilots are approaching a midnight deadline, when either side could trigger the start of a shutdown for Canada's largest airline.
America votes: How a Harris or Trump win could impact Canada-U.S. trade
With the current North American free trade agreement up for review in 2026, the next U.S. president will have the power to press for changes or preserve the status quo.
Son charged with 1st-degree murder after father's death on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast
A 26-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of his father on the Sunshine Coast last year.
Fugitive wanted in connection with Rocky View County murder arrested
Mounties have captured a fugitive wanted for murder and on the run since early August, and it happened while they were working another case.
Loblaw using body-worn cameras at 2 Calgary stores as part of pilot project
Loblaw is launching a pilot program that will see employees at two Calgary locations don body-worn cameras in an effort to increase safety.
TOP STORY What you need to know about COVID-19 as we head into fall
As we head into another respiratory illness season, here’s a look at where Ontario stands when it comes to COVID-19 and what you need to know.
'Such a rush': Vancouver makeup artist wins second Emmy award
A born-and-raised Vancouver resident is among the film and television artists from the FX drama Shogun who swept the Creative Emmy Awards.
'Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan': Ottawa honours Dr. Frances McGill for work in forensics
Ottawa is recognizing Canada’s first female forensic pathologist as a person of national historic significance.