A14 NEWS

THE PROVINCE
February 2007
Cops must accept civilian oversight

EX-JUDGE: Officers are liable to resist public complaints
BY IAN BAILEY
POLITICAL REPORTER
A review of the way complaints against police are handled has led a retired justice to recommend major changes to the system.
Joe Wood found that the system largely works despite flaws out could use improvements that include beefing up the powers of the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.
Wood found that 81 per cent of 294 complaints between 2003 and 2005 he reviewed were properly handled but 19 per cent were not.
He said his "greatest concern" is a lack of "complete acceptance" by police of civilian oversight.
Police generally accept the need for accountability, but "what is at issue here is the extent to which that accountability extends when it comes to the complaint process and the oversight role of the police complaint commissioner."
Wood also warned of a "strong common bond" among officers that complicates efforts to police the police, suggesting it has a "tendency to create a natural resistance when complaints about conduct are received."
Among other things, Wood wants the commissioner involved with the investigation of complaints, possibly by monitoring their progress.
Wood, releasing the results of a 15-month review, also called for legislation to compel police to cooperate with investigators.
The report applies only to independent municipal forces, not the RCMP, so it only covers services affecting about 25 per cent of British Columbians.
Police complaint commissioner Dirk Ryneveld welcomed Wood's ideas, outlined in 91 recommendations.
"Police accountability is in everyone's interest, as it ensures both that police forces maintain the public confidence they require and deserve and that individual police officers are fairly and properly held accountable for demonstrated misconduct," Ryneveld said in a statement.
Solicitor-General John Les described Wood's ideas as "workable," adding that they would help improve handling of complaints.
"1 am pleased that Mr. Wood has found the majority of the complaints against the police are properly investigated and handled appropriately," Les said.
"However, in reviewing the files, he has found that some areas need adjustment and improvement and some require changes in legislation."
He said his staff are analyzing the report to figure out how to proceed,
Insp. Hollie Woods, head of the Vancouver Police Department's professional-standards section, welcomed "improvements in the system" to reinforce public trust.
"We all want to know that we are safe and that we can trust the police to protect us and always do the right thing," he said.