3 VPD senior officers facing serious discipline following Burnaby crash: sources
When an RCMP officer arrived on the scene, one VPD member allegedly grabbed his arm as he tried to retrieve a cell phone. Another allegedly threatened the Mountie’s job.
In early 2023, several investigations were initiated into the conduct of three senior Vancouver police officers who responded to a car crash at Kingsway and Royal Oak in Burnaby, following an incident where one of their colleagues allegedly made an illegal left-hand turn.
When an RCMP officer arrived at the scene, one Vancouver officer reportedly grabbed his arm as he attempted to retrieve a cell phone, while another allegedly threatened the officer's job.
The Burnaby RCMP officer was equipped with body camera gear, which recorded both video and audio of the entire event.
According to sources, the three Vancouver officers now face significant disciplinary actions, including suspensions of up to 30 days and possible demotions. Vancouver police have neither confirmed nor denied this information.
In an email statement, they said: "The Police Act process, and any disciplinary measures resulting from OPCC (Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner) investigations, are intended to be confidential. We are unable to discuss specific details."
The Police Act investigation followed a criminal probe that did not lead to any charges.
Arthur Schafer, of the Centre for Applied Ethics, expressed concern to Global News, stating, "The fact that the criminal investigation was quietly dropped without explanation, and that no announcement has been made by the police to reassure the public that high-ranking officers are being held accountable, raises legitimate concerns. The public deserves to know."
The OPCC has not responded to inquiries, leaving the public with unanswered questions regarding transparency and accountability.
