A senior Vancouver Police officer has been ordered dismissed for misconduct during an inappropriate relationship with a junior Vancouver Police officer.
As has been previously reported, Vancouver Police Constable Nicole Chan tragically committed suicide in January 2019. An investigation ordered by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner and conducted by the New Westminster Police Department revealed that Sergeant D. Van Patten was in an inappropriate relationship with Constable Chan while also serving as a Human Resources Officer for the Vancouver Police Department.
On January 2, 2020, the Discipline Authority, Chief Officer Dave Jones of the Transit Police, rendered a discipline decision concluding that three allegations of discreditable conduct were substantiated. Chief Officer Jones imposed penalties which included an order that Sergeant Van Patten be dismissed from the Vancouver Police Department.
Police officers facing dismissal have an automatic right to request the decision be reviewed by a retired judge through a public hearing. In addition, the Police Complaint Commissioner may on his own initiative order a public hearing if he considers it in the public interest to do so. To date no determination has been made.
“This is a serious and tragic matter. As Police Act proceedings remain underway, no further details will be released at this time,” said Andrea Spindler, Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner.
