7 of the strangest problems B.C. police officers were punished for last year
Assault a citizen, lying under oath ... destroying another officer's jacket and passing it off as their own?
The annual report of the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, released today, gives a window into the long and multi-level disciplinary process police officers face when accused of wrongdoing.
But it also shines a light at some of the eyebrow-raising behaviour we typically don't associate with police misconduct.
Today's report provides summaries of all substantiated allegations against police officers — within the OPCC's jurisdiction — that ended between between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016.
Here's a sampling of some of the more eyebrow-raising cases:
1. The case of the stolen and destroyed police jacket
In late 2015, a member of the Abbotsford Police Department said their department-issued rain jacket had been damaged and asked for a new one.
When asked to show the damaged rain jacket, the member took another officer's jacket from the locker room, cut up the jacket and presented it as their own.
Nearly two months later, the same member said their department-issued winter jacket had been lost.
An investigation began, during which the guilty officer lied to a professional standards investigator about the conduct.
The officer resigned prior to the discipline authority making a decision.
2. The case of the officer who really wanted back into the nightclub
In November of 2014, a Delta police officer, while off duty, was kicked out of a nightclub for being intoxicated.
The officer wanted back into the club, so identified himself as an "undercover officer" to the bouncer.
The officer's superiors found out.
The officer was giving a one-day suspension, along with "further training to assist the member in assessing his/her behaviours."
3. The case of the cyberstalked fence builder
A New Westminster officer was living in a townhouse complex where a fence was being replaced.
The officer decided to use police databases to look up a licence plate of one of the contractors building the fence — and found the contractor had a criminal record and the contractor's car was uninsured.
When a member of the property management company came by the officer's house to give an update on the fence, the officer revealed the information.
The officer was given a one-day suspension for unauthorized use of the database.
4. The case of the stolen money jar
In late 2014, members of the New Westminster Street Crime Unit were putting money into an open jar on a desk in their office. At a certain point, they noticed money was being taken from it.
An investigation ensured. It was discovered an officer had stolen from the jar several times.
The officer was immediately fired.
5. The case of the SpecForce Alpha fitness video
Sgt. Todd Lamb of the Saanich Police Department was running a fitness program called Specforce Alpha in his spare time.
That was fine. What wasn't fine was the promotional video he put on YouTube, which showed Lamb repeatedly firing a weapon, along with other police officers.
Lamb resigned before the completion of an investigation into his actions. The YouTube video remains online.
6. The case of the officer who showed up to work drunk
On March 30, 2014, a West Vancouver police officer "reported to work unfit for duty due to the effects of intoxicating liquor," according to the OPCC.
The officer was told his alcohol limit was over the legal limit. The officer then drove away from the police station.
The officer was given a written reprimand (for arriving drunk), and a one-day suspension without pay (for leaving the station drunk).
7. The case of firearm practice gone wrong
In late 2014, a Vancouver police officer was preparing for the annual firearm qualification, which took place later that day at the firing range.
The officer decided to practice and intended to shoot a gun without ammunition in it.
The gun had ammunition in it.
The officer was given a written reprimand, along with a misconduct for "Improper use or Care of Firearms."
