The president of the Vancouver Police Union has criticized the handling of a sexual assault case that ended in the suicide of a Central Saanich Police officer.
Ralph Kaisers says in a letter to members that was obtained by The Canadian Press that the “tragic loss” of the officer came after public statements that risked “undermining the presumption of innocence.”
The comments Kaisers refers to were made in a Vancouver Police Department news release and by Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson on Tuesday after the arrest of two Central Saanich officers who were accused of sexually assaulting the same woman in separate incidents.
Kaisers says in the letter dated Dec. 18 that Wilson’s description of the allegations as “deeply corrosive to public trust” before any trial or conviction prejudges the case and casts a shadow over the entire law enforcement community.
The news release issued by police “goes beyond what is necessary to inform the public and veers into language that risks undermining the presumption of innocence — a fundamental principle of our justice system,” Kaisers’ letter says.
Media reports said Wednesday that 43-year-old Sgt. Matthew Ball died by suicide shortly after being accused of one count each of sexual assault and breach of trust.
The letter says learning of the tragic loss of one of the officers involved emphasizes the urgent need for police agencies across B.C. to practice what they preach when it comes to trauma-informed approaches.
Kaisers says he shares the concerns of other officers about how public statements, especially those that are “overly charged,” can influence public perception and affect morale of officers.
“It is essential that public communications strike a proper balance: providing necessary transparency while safeguarding the rights of accused individuals and preserving the reputation of the policing community,” the letter says.
Vancouver police said on Tuesday that the Central Saanich Police Service asked it to investigation allegations against the two officers.
Wilson said then that Ball and Const. Ryan Johnston, 40, allegedly formed separate “intimate” and “inappropriate” relationships with the same woman in her mid-20s, and it did not appear the two officers acted together.
Johnston faces a single count of sexual assault for allegations that happened between Feb. 6, 2020, and March 8, 2020.
