Oak Bay police sergeant demoted after investigation into corruption, use of intoxicants
A police sergeant in Oak Bay, B.C., has been demoted and barred from seeking a promotion for one year after he was investigated for corruption, neglect of duty and using intoxicants.
The Oak Bay Police Department was made aware of allegations against then Sgt. Davindar Dalep in October 2020.
The department says it immediately requested an external investigation of the veteran officer from the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC), the independent office of the B.C. legislature that oversees investigations of municipal police in the province.
"Given the nature of the allegations, the member was assigned to administrative duties and his weapons were seized," Oak Bay police Chief Ray Bernoties told CTV News.
The OPCC ordered the Victoria Police Department to investigate the matter and serve as the disciplinary authority in the case.
After more than 15 months, the investigation reached its conclusion on Feb. 2, substantiating allegations of misuse of intoxicants, discreditable conduct, corrupt practice, and two instances of neglect of duty, according to the Oak Bay Police Department.
Dalep, who started with the Oak Bay police in 1998 and was promoted to sergeant in 2017, was sanctioned with a reduction in rank from sergeant to first-class constable. He is prohibited from seeking a promotion for one year and must gain the chief's approval first.
In a phone interview Thursday, the sanctioned officer told CTV News he was fully cooperative with investigators and is relieved to be back on patrol in Oak Bay.
"I had a difficult year and a half and I took responsibility," Dalep said. "I made a mistake and I owned up to it. The police [investigators] did the right job and I'm back to patrol because I did the right things to get back to patrol."
Bernoties confirmed Dalep has returned to regular duties as a constable under the supervision of a sergeant.
The chief thanked the Victoria police for their investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.