The Saanich Police Department created
the Professional Standards Office in July of 1998. This section was
created in response to the enactment of the Amended Police Act of
1997. The amended Act implemented a new complaint process
that applies equally to all Municipal and Provincial Police Departments
in British Columbia, it does not apply to the RCMP.
The new complaint procedure requires that all
complaints be handled in a specific way. The process is fair to both
the police and the person(s) making the complaint. In order to ensure
a consistent approach and an unbiased resolution to complaints, there is
considerable documentation of every complaint that is lodged.
This is required to keep all parties informed of the process and its progress,
and to allow the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to review
each case..
The documentation and processing of complaints
takes time and an expertise in the area. For these reasons the Department
decided to dedicate a full time position to this work. The
Professional Standards Office is staffed by one Sergeant. Effective December
1st 2000, Sgt. Scott Green occupies the position.
Also as of December 1st 2000, the Professional standards Officer reports to Insp. Bob Downie
who in turn reports to Chief Constable Derek Egan, or in his absence,
Deputy Chief Constable Mike Chadwick.
The Professional Standards Officer processes and
investigates all formal Police Act complaints, and facilitates the
resolution of less serious complaints through informal resolutions.