The furor over the arrest of three Lower Mainland police officers on allegations of assault and robbery has forced Vancouver's police chief to issue a statement.
Chief Const. Jim Chu admits it's unusual to speak about an ongoing investment but -- for the sake of preserving the public's respect -- he wants to reassure people about the integrity of the process.
Chu says the investigation is being pursued aggressively and fully and he urged anyone who may have witnessed or video taped the incident to contact police.
Three officers, all from different Vancouver-area police departments, were arrested Wednesday over the allegations they attacked a 47-year-old newspaper delivery driver near a downtown hotel.
Two officers, from the Delta and West Vancouver departments, have been reassigned to desk duties while a constable from New Westminster Police has been suspended with pay.
B.C.'s Police Complaints Commissioner is conducting a separate investigation into the allegations.
