VPD officer suspended 5 days for drunk driving crash; watchdog orders review
An off-duty Vancouver police officer who allegedly drove drunk and rear-ended a van with children as passengers was handed a five-day suspension, and a watchdog has ordered a review of that decision.
The discipline meted out to Const. Samuel Cheung by his own department may have been "inappropriate and inadequate," the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner said Friday, announcing a retired judge will be appointed to re-examine the case. Further, the "nature and the seriousness" of the misconduct led the OPCC to conclude that a review would be in the public interest.
"Impaired driving continues to be one of the leading causes of death in society. The attention given to address this issue by the courts and Canadian laws demonstrates the seriousness of such conduct. Additionally, attempting to conceal this conduct by discarding evidence is a serious affront to the public trust," Prabhu Rajan, police complaint commissioner said.
What happened
On July 2, 2022, the Delta Police Department notified the Vancouver Police Department that Cheung had been involved in a crash and failed a roadside breathalyzer, according to the OPCC.
"Additionally, while at the scene, the Member disclosed to a DPD member that he was employed as a police officer with the VPD," the statement from the watchdog says.
At the station, another test revealed that Cheung's blood alcohol level was over the legal limit and he was released with a 24-hour driving prohibition and a promise to appear in criminal court. The statement from the OPCC does not say what Cheung's blood alcohol level was measured at but describes him as having been in "a significant state of impairment."
The OPCC ordered a Police Act investigation into two allegations of misconduct; that Cheung had committed "discreditable conduct" by driving while impaired, and that he had committed "corrupt practice" because he identified himself as a VPD officer.
The misconduct probe was suspended while the criminal case was underway. It resumed after Cheung pleaded guilty to one violation of the Motor Vehicle Act.
The VPD's professional standards section conducted the investigation and found Cheung had committed discreditable conduct "when off duty" by "operating a motor vehicle with his blood alcohol level over the legal limit," the OPCC said.
Reasons for review
Cheung was suspended for five days without pay, a penalty the OPCC said does not appear to have given the appropriate weight to the aggravating factors in the case, which Rajan listed.
"(They include) the member leaving the safety of his home to go for a drive while intoxicated; the danger posed to the public in driving in an intoxicated state; the danger caused to the occupants of the vehicle he struck, which included children; the damage done to the affected person’s vehicle; and attempting to hide evidence of his drinking," she wrote, adding that the investigation found Cheung has "tossed" a beer can into the nearby bushes and that Delta police found a beer can "underneath the member’s vehicle."
CTV News has contacted the BC Prosecution Service for more information about the charge to which Cheung pleaded guilty, including what the sentence or penalty was. This story will be updated when a response is received.
Outcome of criminal case
Publicly available online court records show someone named Samuel Cheung pleaded guilty in 2023 to one count of driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention and was sentenced to pay $1,000 fine and a $150 victim surcharge. A three-month probation order was also imposed. The records indicated that the guilty plea was to a lesser included offence but did not say what charge or charges the accused originally faced. The date and location of the offence were also not included.
A spokesperson for the BC Prosecution Service, in an email, said the file stemmed from July 2, 2022, in or around Delta. The statement also said that the accused in the case was originally charged with one count of impaired driving and one count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration at or over 0.08.
The Vancouver Police Department has not responded to a request for comment on Cheung's duty status.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.