VPD officers allegedly interfered with Burnaby RCMP crash investigation
Vancouver police officers are facing allegations of obstructing an RCMP investigation after an off duty-colleague was involved in a crash in Burnaby, sources have told CTV News.
The Burnaby RCMP, in a statement, confirmed that an officer from the Vancouver Police Department was taken to hospital after being injured in a collision near Kingsway and Royal Oak Avenue around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.
“It is our sincere hope that the officer fully recovers,” Cpl. Mike Kalanj wrote in an email to CTV News on Wednesday night, adding “Any time a fellow police officer is injured, we know that emotions can run high.”
Sources tell CTV News that at least 10 female officers, several of whom are high-ranking, had attended an off-duty training course at Odd Squad Productions in Burnaby that morning, before departing for Metrotown.
On the way there, it's alleged that one of the women, an inspector for the department, made an illegal left turn before colliding with another vehicle.
When the other officers arrived, one of them, also an inspector, reportedly went to grab her injured colleague's phone from her vehicle. When a Burnaby RCMP traffic officer intervened, she grabbed their arm. At the same time, a third officer allegedly threatened to get the Mountie fired.
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, B.C.’s independent civilian oversight agency, says it was notified on Wednesday of “an incident between VPD members and the Burnaby RCMP.”
“We are awaiting further information from the VPD before determining appropriate next steps under the Police Act,” said Andrea Spindler, deputy police complaint commissioner, in an email.
“An investigation under the Police Act will be initiated should there be any allegations of misconduct that arise. Any allegations that are criminal in nature rest with the police of jurisdiction.”
Kalanj says the VPD “remains a valued partner in public safety,” adding, "any alleged circumstances surrounding this incident will not affect the integrity of the investigation, nor the relationship between the Burnaby RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department.”
VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin says her force trusts Burnaby RCMP will thoroughly investigate “all of the factors that led to the collision.”
“We are also reviewing the facts to fully understand what occurred before, during, and after the incident,” Visintin told CTV News in an email.
Former B.C. Solicitor General and West Vancouver Police Chief Kash Heed says the allegations raise a number of questions.
“I’m led to believe that the traffic officer that was attending the accident had to call for covering units to assist him because of the behavior of senior VPD officers," he said, noting an investigation will need to look at whether the officer involved had committed a criminal act and if her colleagues were intentionally trying to obstruct another department's investigation.
While both the VPD and Burnaby RCMP say this won't hurt their relationship, Heed feels otherwise.
"There will be a strain," he said.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Spencer Harwood and Becca Clarkson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.