Interim chief appointed in Victoria following Battershill's suspension

Victoria Police Chief Paul Battershill has been suspended from his duties with pay — with this latest development coming as the Victoria Police Board appointed an interim chief to head the department.

Battershill was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 11, after a sensitive legal document was allegedly leaked to the media. He's currently under an RCMP investigation that was ordered by B.C.'s police complaints commissioner.

In a press release on Tuesday, Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, chair of the Victoria Police Board, said Battershill has been suspended with pay, effectively immediately.

Deputy chief Bill Naughton was appointed as the interim chief constable for the Victoria Police Department.

Given the ongoing police investigation, there will be no further public comment, according to the press release.

The Victoria Police Board met behind closed doors for four hours Monday night — the second emergency meeting it has held over the past month concerning the embattled police chief. The first one led to the chief being placed on administrative leave.

The police complaints commissioner has told Lowe and others close to the RCMP investigation not to speak to the media about the chief's conduct until the official investigation is complete.

It's not known when it will be completed.