Police watchdog orders review in case of New West officer who sexually harassed colleagues

An unnamed sergeant in the New Westminster Police Department (NWPD) who sexually harassed lower ranked female employees has had his discipline decision put under review.

In a posted notice, British Columbia Police Complaint Commissioner Clayton Pecknold said there are questions about whether the punishment facing the unidentified man — a reduction in rank — fit the level of his misconduct.

"I have concluded that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the disciplinary or corrective measures proposed do not adequately reflect the seriousness and circumstances of the member's conduct; namely that the member used his rank and position of power within the NWPD to engage in an ongoing pattern of non-consensual behaviour of a sexual nature toward junior and vulnerable employees of the NWPD," wrote Pecknold.

The man is described as holding a supervisory rank and leadership role within the NWPD. 

An investigation by the Vancouver Police Department found he made inappropriate sexual advances toward lower ranked female employees that were "very serious," "predatory in nature," and amounted to a "high-range level" of misconduct.

He was found guilty of two counts of discreditable conduct under the Police Act, which he did not dispute.

Pecknold said reducing the man's rank would possibly allow him to re-enter the workplace.

"This has the potential to bring the administration of police discipline into disrepute," he said. 

According to the OPCC, there was a related criminal investigation into the man's conduct that did not result in charges.

Complaints against the man involve incidents from 2016, 2018 and 2019. 

Pecknold said a public hearing is not necessary in the case, given the thoroughness of the investigation and discipline proceedings, as well as available evidence.

He said the review on the record will be limited in scope to the "adequacy and appropriateness" of the discipline decision.

Retired provincial court judge Carol Baird Ellan has been appointed adjudicator of the review. A date has not been set.