The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) has ordered a review of discipline following a second misconduct investigation involving former Vancouver Police (VPD) officer and former Royal Roads instructor Keiron McConnell.
During a discipline proceeding which took place in May, McConnell admitted he had committed police misconduct when he encountered a former female student of his at a bar in 2005, while on duty, and had sex with her after his shift—fully aware she was under the influence of alcohol.
Additionally, he admitted to exchanging inappropriate sexual messages with the former student and looking her up in a police database without adequate reason to.
Furthermore, at a separate OPCC hearing, McConnell admitted to having committed sexual misconduct with five other female coworkers and former students for which he received a 20 day unpaid suspension and a demotion.
Regarding the 2005 incident of sexual misconduct, in May, an OPCC adjudicator handed McConnell an unpaid suspension of just 10 days.
Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan believes this punishment to be insufficient given the nature of McConnell’s admitted sexual misconduct.
To address this concern, the commissioner has appointed a retired judge to independently review the disciplinary decision.
Following the discipline hearing in May, Commissioner Rajan noted that VPD did not participate in the hearing’s proceedings and the work of the adjudicator would have been made easier if they had, considering some of his sexual misconduct involved VPD officers.
Additionally, Rajan finds it problematic that the affected former student and the OPCC were not permitted to participate in the discipline proceedings.
Related
- Former Royal Roads instructor and police officer admits to five instances of sexual misconduct
- Former Royal Roads instructor and police sergeant being paid while under investigation
- Former Royal Roads instructor and VPD officer accused of sexual misconduct
Rajan says this new review of his punishment will consider the full range of disciplinary and corrective measures, up to and including dismissal—given McConnell’s admission of misconduct and the other instances of sexualized discreditable conduct he has allegedly committed.
“The admitted misconduct in this case is serious in nature and is likely to have caused the former student physical, emotional, or psychological harm, and to have violated her dignity,” explained Commissioner Rajan.
“I am concerned that the discipline imposed does not fit the seriousness of the admitted sexualized conduct or appropriately consider the member’s service record, which includes a demotion and lengthy suspension for past sexualized behaviour.”
Rajan added that the public’s confidence in police is likely to be undermined without an independent review of this matter.
For the new review, Rajan has appointed former chief judge of the Provincial Court Carol Baird Ellan to preside as adjudicator.
Although McConnell has now retired from the VPD, if the review results in different disciplinary or corrective measures, it will be recorded on his service record of discipline.
