Professional Standards Section

The Professional Standards Section professionally investigates allegations of misconduct by members of the Vancouver Police Department.

Consisting of one staff sergeant, eight sergeants and a civilian administrative assistant, the Section reports through Inspector Mike Serr to the Superintendent in charge of Personnel Services who then reports to the Deputy Chief Constable in charge of the Support Services Division of the Vancouver Police Department.

History

Originally known as the Internal Affairs Section, the new name, Professional Standards, was adopted in early 2006 to more accurately reflect the expanded role of the Section.

As in any professional group or organization, the Vancouver Police Department is proud of its standards of conduct. This Section ensures those standards are preserved by investigating alleged violations and conversely recognizing and celebrating those members who raise the standards to levels that go Beyond the Call.

Values

Through its investigative efforts the overriding values of the Section are:

• integrity
• professionalism
• transparency
• thoroughness
• accountability
• fairness

Mission Statement

The Professional Standards Section professionally investigates allegations of misconduct by members of the Vancouver Police Department. While maintaining the highest level of integrity and decorum, the members of the Professional Standards Section will conduct fair, unbiased and complete investigations in accordance with applicable legislation and direction of the discipline authority.

Mandate

The mandate of the Professional Standards Section is to preserve the integrity of the Vancouver Police Department and the Chief Constable’s Office by ensuring that the conduct of VPD members is beyond reproach.

The Vancouver Police Department is accountable for the acts or omissions of all of its employees. We will conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in a fair, impartial and transparent manner according to law. Each case will be evaluated exclusively on evidence gathered during the investigation.

The Professional Standards Section will be directly responsible to the Deputy Chief Constable in charge of the Investigation Division. The Chief Constable is the Discipline Authority for the Vancouver Police Department and will exercise his responsibilities as required. The Section is responsible for the:

1. investigation of all complaints of an alleged criminal nature against members and employees of the Department
2. management of all alleged non-criminal (misconduct) complaints against members of the Department, investigating complaints where possible or assigning them to the appropriate Division for follow-up
3. management of an early intervention program which assists Personnel Services in evaluating, identifying and assisting members who exhibit signs of performance and / or conduct related issues

The conduct of municipal police officers in British Columbia is regulated by the British Columbia Police Act and discipline is set out in the Code of Professional Conduct Regulations contained in the B.C. Police Act. The Professional Standards Section is responsible for the thorough and comprehensive investigations of police officers involved in alleged criminal wrongdoing and defaults under the Code of Professional Conduct of the B.C. Police Act or infractions of other statutes. Complaints may be submitted in writing, by electronic mail or by telephone.

In British Columbia, The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) was created to provide independent civilian oversight of all aspects of investigations into complaints made against municipal police officers and departments. The Police Complaint Commissioner has the authority to order an additional investigation or a new investigation if he is not satisfied. He may also order an outside municipal agency or the RCMP to conduct an external investigation, or he may order a public hearing. The Professional Standards Section cooperates fully with the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner to ensure the highest quality of investigation and to maintain the public trust. It is very important to the Police Complaint Commissioner and the Vancouver Police Department to enable as many people as possible to access the police complaint process. The Commissioner has had the complaint information brochures and complaint form translated into twelve different languages for your convenience on the OPCC website.

The Professional Standards Section regularly trains police officers and new recruits to ensure that they understand their responsibilities and to avoid behaviour that generates complaints or negatively affects the reputation of the Department. Professional Standards also works with support groups and the community to reduce fear of the police and remove language barriers to allow the public to more easily exercise their right to complain about alleged police misconduct.