One of B.C.’s police watchdog organizations has launched an online searchable database that tracks cases involving municipal police officers who were the subject of substantiated allegations of misconduct and corresponding disciplinary measures.
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) created the in response to recommendations from an all-party B.C. legislature committee, which was tasked with reviewing the police complaints process.
“This isn't about shaming officers in any way,” said Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner Andrea Spindler. “But officers hold very powerful positions in society, and they have been given tremendous powers and tools to carry out a very difficult job. But they have to be held accountable when they exceed their authorities.”
At the same time, Spindler said names of officers are not included in the information.
“We're of the view that it's not necessarily in the public interest to release the names of the officers involved unless it is part of a public process,” Spindler said.
Information available in the database goes back to 2010.
“Officers, at times, they make mistakes and they're held accountable,” she said. “But I don't think that the public interest is served by further releasing their names.”
'Very cumbersome'
Names of officers are public information if charged with a crime, or are facing a public hearing. The OPCC can also release an officer’s name, if the organization deems it to be in the public interest.
What the database offers is information largely already available in annual reports and summaries of proceedings that can be found by tediously searching the OPCC’s website.
Searching for that information in a now user-friendly approach has been welcomed by retired judges hired as adjudicators and senior officers tasked with ruling on an officer’s discipline.
“These discipline authorities [senior officers] and retired judges who do this important work under the Police Act were having to sift through years of these summaries [of cases] that we put online,” said Spindler, noting the information assists with senior officers and retired judges reaching a decision.
“It was just not very easy to navigate. It was very cumbersome.”
The database, which was officially announced two weeks ago, is designed with drop-down menus that include investigation type, name of police department, type of misconduct, disciplinary measures and date investigation started and concluded.
Database lists 911 files
The database currently has 911 files listed, with the most recent involving three Vancouver police officers. The case dates back to December 2020 and concluded March 2023.
According to the VPD, three officers organized an internal job competition and improperly assessed the scoring, which led to “adverse job-related consequences” for an applicant.
“Additionally, in response to a complaint from the applicant about the hiring process, members failed to provide a safe working environment for the applicant and made inappropriate comments about the applicant’s suitability for the position,” the summary of the investigation said.
It was determined the officers contravened the VPD’s respectful workplace policy. Training, re-training, a written reprimand, a transfer and re-assignment were among the disciplinary measures imposed.
'Integrity at all times'
The database covers the 12 municipal police departments that fall under the OPCC’s jurisdiction, as well as the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service, and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – BC (Organized Crime Agency of BC).
Jerome Igbokwe, an articling student for the BC Civil Liberties Association, said in an email Monday that the database is “a step in the right direction,” but more needs to be done.
“The public should have access to the identities of police officers whose misconduct allegations have been substantiated,” Igbokwe said.
“This would promote transparency and trust within our society. Other regulated professions already do this, so why should the police be exempt? We believe that the public should be able to associate a name with misconduct. If every officer knows that their details will be published, it will serve as a strong incentive for them to uphold the law and act with integrity at all times.”
Public hearing for VPD sergeant
Meanwhile, a public hearing into sexualized misconduct allegations against VPD Sgt. Keiron McConnell will begin April 7 at the Coroners Court in Burnaby.
Retired provincial court judge Carol Baird Ellan, who was the former chief judge of that court, issued an order under section 150 of the Police Act that protects the names and identifying information of the seven women involved in the matter.
Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan determined that the nature of the alleged misconduct supported the need for a hearing and noted public interest considerations including:
• Sexual harassment is both a human rights and workplace safety issue, especially where a power imbalance is implicitly or explicitly exploited.
• The alleged misconduct is serious as it involves sexualized actions and communications in circumstances where there appears to have been a power imbalance between the parties involved.
• The allegations of misconduct span a period of approximately five years and, if proven, suggest an ongoing pattern.
• The alleged misconduct has caused or is likely to have caused emotional and psychological harm.
X/@Howellings
