Professional Standards
The Professional Standards Section reports directly to the Chief Constable of the Port Moody Police Department. This Section consists of two Sergeants overseen by a Staff Sergeant.
The mandate of our Professional Standards Section is to investigate complaints lodged against the Port Moody Police Department or its members. The Professional Standards Section is an independent section within the police department established to investigate allegations of police misconduct. It is staffed by experienced officers with specialized training in the handling of citizen issues, complaints, and police discipline. Professional Standards Officers conduct Police Act investigations with objectivity, fairness, transparency, and openness. Each case is evaluated exclusively on evidence gathered during the investigation. The Chief Constable is the Disciplinary Authority for the Port Moody Police Department and will exercise his responsibilities as required, pursuant to the British Columbia Police Act.
The conduct of municipal police officers in British Columbia is regulated by the British Columbia Police Act. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has civilian oversight authority of the British Columbia Police Act for complaints against municipal police officers. The Police Complaint Commissioner is an independent office of the provincial legislature with an office in Victoria. The Police Act, introduced on March 31, 2010, gave the Police Complaint Commissioner extensive authority and powers related to complaints against municipal police officers. 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 police agency or the RCMP to conduct an external investigation, or he may order a public hearing.
Police Complaint Commission staff monitor police complaint investigations concurrently through access to the investigative file and regular updates. Once an investigation is completed, the file is submitted to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner. Findings arrived at by the Discipline Authority must be supported in writing. Investigative reports are disclosed to the complainant and to the subject police officers. The investigative reports and findings are thoroughly examined and critically assessed by Police Complaint Commission staff. If any shortcomings are detected in the investigations, or with the findings, the Police Complaint Commissioner may direct a number of steps including: further investigation, order the matter to be re-investigated by another agency, order an independent review by an adjudicator with full authority, or direct the matter to a Public Hearing. As such, municipal police officers are held to the highest account by the Police Complaint Commissioner in complaint investigations.
Our Professional Standards Sections cooperates fully with the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to ensure the highest quality of investigation and to maintain the public trust.
Participation in Police Act investigations by all persons is protected by the confidentiality provision of the Police Act (Section 182). The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act does not apply to any record of a complaint concerning the conduct of a member that is made, submitted, registered or processed under this Act. Police Act reports and investigations are therefore not subject to disclosure apart from exceptional circumstances, for example, where the incident is related to an ongoing or relevant criminal proceeding, or as a result of a Supreme Court civil disclosure order. You can be assured of confidentiality in the Police Act process.
Make a Registered or Non-Registered Complaint
It is important to the Port Moody Police Department and the Police Complaint Commissioner (https://www.opcc.bc.ca) to enable as many people as possible to access the police complaint process.
It is anticipated that in the course of thousands of contacts made annually between citizens and members of the Port Moody Police Department, some meetings may be unsatisfactory. Often, informal resolution or mediation can address issues and lead to a satisfactory resolution. At other times, the Registered or Non-Registered complaint process should be initiated to thoroughly investigate the allegations and determine the appropriate findings in accordance with the Police Act. The Port Moody Police Department Police Department Professional Standards Section can assist you with informal resolution, mediation, and investigation of complaints related to Port Moody Police Department officers.
Assistance with Registered (formal) and Non-Registered (informal) complaints can be obtained by contacting any on duty Port Moody Police Department Professional Standards investigator.
Immediate assistance can also be obtained through contact with the on-duty patrol supervisor 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The process for making a Registered or Non-Registered complaint is:
- Complete a Complaint Form, printer friendly Complaint form or electronic Complaint Form
- Send the completed Complaint Form via info@portmoodypolice.com, mail, facsimile or by personal delivery to the Port Moody Police Department or to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner
If you wish to lodge a complaint about the actions of a Port Moody Police officer you must complete a Complaint Form available at the Port Moody Police Department or found on the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner website (https://www.opcc.bc.ca). You may also complete their online Complaint Form that is sent directly to their office.
The completed form can be mailed, emailed, faxed, or delivered in person to our Department’s Professional Standards Section or to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.
If you have any questions about the process of making a complaint you can contact:
Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (Victoria Office)
#501, 947 Fort Street
PO Box 9895, Stn Prov Govt,
Victoria, BC V8W 9T8.
Phone: (250) 356-7458
Email: info@opcc.bc.ca
Port Moody Police Department – Professional Standards Section
3051 St Johns Street
Port Moody, BC V3H 2C4
Phone: (604) 461-3456
info@portmoodypolice.com