Former high-ranking Mountie facing discipline over letter to Arlene Westervelt's sister
A former B.C. Mountie is facing discipline for communicating with the sister of a woman found dead in Okanagan Lake.
In a news release Thursday, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner said it has ordered a review by a retired judge into a disciplinary decision against Sgt. Brian Gately, who allegedly disobeyed orders during the investigation into the death of Arlene Westervelt.
In June 2016, Westervelt’s body was found in Lake Okanagan. The day before, the 56-year-old had been out in a canoe with her husband Bert, and the boat capsized. Initially, it was treated as an accident.
In 2019, Arlene’s husband was charged with second-degree murder. But 15 months later, the charge was stayed. The Crown said it had received new evidence that reduced the likelihood of a conviction.
Bert Westervelt has always maintained his innocence.
In an episode of CTV News’ W5 in January 2021, family members of Arlene Westervelt claimed that Gateley was a friend of her husband’s, and accused him of helping Bert Westervelt access her locked phone following her death.
Following the airing of the episode, Gateley, now a member of B.C.’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, penned a letter to the deceased’s sister, Debbie Hennig.
Within the letter, which was shared with CTV News by Hennig, Gateley wrote: “The conclusions … the program came to were regrettable and inaccurate and I want to assure you that my actions did not in any way compromise the police investigation into Arlene’s death.”
However, the OPCC notice states that in December 2020, Gateley was told by his supervisors not to have any contact with any witnesses from the investigation.
In June 2021, the OPCC tasked the Vancouver Police Department to investigate the matter.
The OPCC release said Gateley was found to have committed discreditable conduct under the Police Act.
A one-day suspension was recommended, but the commissioner's office says that did not reflect the seriousness of the misconduct.
“In this letter he makes a real lame attempt to put my mind at ease,” Hennig told CTV News. “This letter was all self serving to protect himself.”
Last May, Hennig and her mother filed a lawsuit against Gateley and one other police officer.
They allege there was a move to “shut down” a consideration of homicide in the case.
Gateley denied the allegations in a subsequent statement of defence.
CTV News has reached out to Gateley for comment, but has not received a response.
The OPCC said James Threlfall, a retired provincial court judge, has been assigned to do the review, but that a date has not yet been scheduled.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Maria Weisgarber and Kendra Mangione
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.