A public hearing has been called to probe possible misconduct by three current and three former Nelson City Police officers.
The hearing will determine if they committed discreditable conduct and neglect of duty because of their posts to the WhatsApp chat group over a two year period.
The posts in question were alleged to be racist, sexist and discriminatory.
BC Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Ragan stated the hearing is the best way to get answers.
“There needs to be clarity for the officers involved in this case and for policing more generally,” Ragan said in the news release and raised another issue the hearing will address.
“Whether chat groups between police officers are protected when they bring discredit to their police department, or undermine a respectful workplace culture,” the commissioner added.
Ragan said the decision to call the hearing is due to the long delays caused by the constitutional challenge launched by five of the officers.
They argue the court-ordered search of one of their personal cell phones was an invasion of privacy.
The hearing will also deal with that legal question.
Nelson City Police alerted the police commissioners office of the posts in Dec 2021 and the former commissioner ordered a Vancouver police investigation in Feb 2022.
Ragan has appointed former Provincial Court Judge Brent Hoy to preside over the hearing.
In addition to ruling on the legality of the phone search and if the officers did act inappropriately, Hoy will decide if the officers should be disciplined and may make recommendations.
Ragan said the matter needs closure.
“The residents of Nelson deserve answers and to know that their police officers are held to higher standards of behavior to ensure their community’s confidence.”
According to the release, the hearing will begin at the earliest “practicable” date.
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