Mayors dispute commissioner’s report on former Victoria police chief
VANCOUVER — Two mayors responsible for Victoria’s police department are disputing a section of a report by British Columbia’s police complaints commissioner that says they mishandled harassment complaints against a former police chief.
Barb Desjardins, mayor of Esquimalt, B.C., said that while she doesn’t dispute the findings of commissioner Stan Lowe’s review of two investigations and subsequent discipline proceedings involving former chief Frank Elsner, she does object “to the tone and the commentary and allegations within the report.”
“It should be a factual report of what happened, what the results were and what the recommendation is. It should not be commentary and speculation on our actions,” she said.
Lowe could not immediately be reached for comment on the position taken by Desjardins and Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.