Complaints Concerning Police Conduct (5:V): Difference between revisions
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Complaints Concerning Police Conduct (5:V) (view source)
Revision as of 19:45, 16 August 2021
, 16 August 2021→2. The Complaint Process
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A member of a municipal police department engages in misconduct when they commit an offence under any provincial or federal act that would render them unfit to perform their duties or that would discredit the reputation of the municipal police department. For an exhaustive definition of misconduct, see section 77 of the ''Police Act'', which governs policing standards for every police officer in BC regardless of department. | A member of a municipal police department engages in misconduct when they commit an offence under any provincial or federal act that would render them unfit to perform their duties or that would discredit the reputation of the municipal police department. For an exhaustive definition of misconduct, see section 77 of the ''Police Act'', which governs policing standards for every police officer in BC regardless of department. | ||
Additionally, each municipal police department will have its own policies regarding appropriate conduct by their police officers. Some departments, such as the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) will have their policies available online. The VPD’s Regulations and Procedure Manual and other policies can be found online at the following link: | Additionally, each municipal police department will have its own policies regarding appropriate conduct by their police officers. Some departments, such as the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) will have their policies available online. The VPD’s Regulations and Procedure Manual and other policies can be found online at the following link: https://vpd.ca/policies-strategies/vpd-regulations-procedures-manual/. | ||
Individuals can make complaints about alleged misconduct by municipal police to the police complaint commissioner. Individuals do not need to have directly witnessed the misconduct; complaints can be brought on behalf of someone or even by third-party complainants. The complaint must generally be made within '''12 months''' of the misconduct (''Police Act'', s 79(1)), but if good reasons exist, and it is not contrary to the public interest, the police complaint commissioner can extend that period (''Police Act'', s 79(2)). | Individuals can make complaints about alleged misconduct by municipal police to the police complaint commissioner. Individuals do not need to have directly witnessed the misconduct; complaints can be brought on behalf of someone or even by third-party complainants. The complaint must generally be made within '''12 months''' of the misconduct (''Police Act'', s 79(1)), but if good reasons exist, and it is not contrary to the public interest, the police complaint commissioner can extend that period (''Police Act'', s 79(2)). | ||
