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Retired judge to review records into demotion of Victoria police sergeant

Aug. 9, 2024, Victoria, B.C. – The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner says it has arranged a review of the record into the demotion of a now-retired Victoria Police Department sergeant after he was found to have given unredacted documents to media.

The process includes having a retired judge conduct “a paper review of all evidence and materials from the investigation and discipline hearing,” from which they must determine whether there was misconduct and if there is a need for corrective or disciplinary measures.

In its notice of the review, the office says the department reported that the unredacted investigation report included identities of officers and others, and contained “serious allegations” against officers that were not substantiated by a disciplinary board.

It says the sergeant was investigated by a Victoria Police Department professional standards investigator in 2023 and was found to have “committed one allegation of neglect of duty.”

But, in June, the office says it received a request for a public hearing or review on record from the demoted officer, who said the investigation into him was biased and should have been referred to an external party.

The office says it has determined that a public hearing is not necessary, but a retired provincial court judge will adjudicate the review on record.