Business relationship between 'disgraced' VicPD officer and former police union president under scrutiny
Victoria’s police chief is standing behind his decision to allow one of his officers to have a business relationship with a constable plagued by corruption allegations.
The allegations against now-retired VicPD Const. Robb Ferris came to light on Wednesday.
The “disgraced” officer was arrested and suspended from the department in June of 2020, after the RCMP’s anti-corruption unit revealed he was believed to be involved in 19 instances of misconduct, “including associating with suspects of police investigations in southern Vancouver Island, divulging details of police investigations to family members, improperly accessing police databases, lying to investigators and divulging sensitive information to civilians,” according to a B.C. Supreme Court decision.
He was never criminally charged.
After the arrest, VicPD Sgt. Len Hollingsworth maintained a business relationship with Ferris. A company summary from BC Registry Services says they co-own a business called Victoria PlayCo, which specializes in sport court construction.
“That’s not hidden to the department — that they’ve been in business for a long time,” said a former VicPD officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to concerns about future reprisal.
“Two police board members stated that in an in-camera meeting, the chief assured them that he didn’t believe it to be a conflict of interest.”
When Victoria mayor Marianne Alto was elected in October of 2022, she became co-chair of the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board. “I am not aware of the board’s knowledge of, or any action taken by the board on this matter,” Alto said in an email to CTV News.
Hollingsworth recently retired, according to a social media post from Victoria police Chief Del Manak.
Hollingsworth used to be president of the Victoria City Police Union. He was also a supervisor of VicPD’s intelligence and analysis section, which handles sources, informants and informant handlers, according to the police source.
“I’ve got no reason to believe that the continued relationship that this officer would have had with Const. Ferris jeopardized public trust or any investigation,” Manak said, noting officers need approval from senior leadership before getting a second job.
“It was pretty clear that Const. Ferris was acting on his own.”
Cases that Ferris worked on are unravelling. Charges were stayed in one of those investigations, which had resulted in a $30-million seizure of drugs, guns and cash. A drug dealer from a separate case is currently appealing his conviction on the basis that testimony Ferris provided at trial was unreliable.
“Police legitimacy is the first layer of officer safety,” the police source said. “When police are perceived as illegitimate, trust is eroded and officers get hurt.”
Hollingsworth declined to comment on this story. Ferris has not responded to CTV News interview requests. This story will be updated if a response is received.
Former Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Chris Lewis said there are rules when it comes to secondary employment for police officers.
“There has to be a judgement call on the part of senior management,” Lewis said.
“If someone isn’t convicted, you know, it’s just an investigation, how far can you control that officer’s activities?”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
Baby dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to woman who was in police custody
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Biden speaks after Donald Trump's conviction in hush money case
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
More counterfeit drugs seized, hot water boiler causes fire: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada recalled various items this week, including more unauthorized products, counterfeit drugs and bassinets.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.