Police Complaint Commissioner determines proposed discipline against CFSEU-BC officer inadequate

THE Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) announced on Thursday that it has ordered a review by a retired judge into the findings of a discipline proceeding relating to allegations of discreditable conduct against a police officer with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC).

CFSEU-BC Sgt. Brian Gateley was investigated under the Police Act for allegations that in February 2021 he communicated with a witness and relative of a deceased person within the context of a significant police investigation and in contravention of directions given to him by supervisors.

The matter was investigated by the Vancouver Police Department and during a subsequent discipline proceeding, Gateley was found to have committed discreditable conduct under the Police Act. The discipline authority recommended that the officer receive a one-day suspension.

In his Notice of Review on the Record issued on Thursday, the Police Complaint Commissioner determined that the proposed discipline did not reflect the seriousness of the circumstances, and that the low level of discipline proposed by the discipline authority is not proportionate to the seriousness of the misconduct.

Retired provincial court judge James Threlfall will preside as the adjudicator of the Review on the Record, which has yet to be scheduled.

Updates on the review will be shared on the OPCC website.

 

The full notice of review:

https://opcc.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Notice-of-Review-on-the-Record-1.pdf