INVESTIGATION OF UNDERCOVER COP CONTINUES

RCMP Internal Affairs continue to investigate allegations of
corruption brought against Penticton undercover drug squad cop

Almost five months after police arrested one of their own and searched
his residence, the officer remains in a state of limbo.

The unnamed constable, a former member of the undercover drug squad,
was arrested Aug. 18 as he arrived for work at the Penticton detachment.

Allegations against the officer include drug possession, trafficking,
breach of trust and obstruction of justice.

Police obtained a search warrant and executed a search, but the
officer was released without charges a few hours after his arrest.

At the time, police said it was anticipated criminal charges would be
laid within a matter of weeks.

But as of this week, members of the RCMP Internal Affairs Unit based
out of headquarters in Vancouver have not yet finalized their
investigation, according to Crown counsel Brad Chapman.

He said police were awaiting a few more witness statements before
filing their report to Crown prosecutors. Once filed, the Crown must
determine what charges, if any, to proceed with. And because the
suspect is a police officer, the file must then be forwarded to the
office of the Attorney General in Victoria before any charges are approved.

The officer has remained on suspension with full pay since his initial
arrest in August.

Should charges be laid, the RCMP would go through a further process to
determine whether the officer would continue to receive a regular pay
cheque while the matter is before the courts.

The officer also faces an internal RCMP investigation that runs
parallel to the criminal investigation.

That investigation could result in separate penalties unrelated to any
criminal sanction.

Penticton RCMP are not commenting on the matter until a decision is
reached on criminal charges.