A high-profile member of the Vancouver Police Department has been named in a civil lawsuit.
The suit was filed by Sharmini Dee, the department’s director of public affairs.
It alleges that VPD media relations officer, Sgt. Steve Addison, harassed and bullied her, based on her gender and race.
In the filing, Dee claims she resigned from the VPD in June as a consequence of that harassment and has also suffered from multiple psychiatric ailments as a result.
The suit also names the City of Vancouver, the B.C. Attorney General, and Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister as defendants.
The claims have not been proven in court.
Global News has learned the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner was notified that an internal investigation took place and a senior VPD officer determined the allegations were unsubstantiated. The VPD is required to submit the findings of that investigation to the OPCC for review. The OPCC confirms that the review is underway.
In a statement, the Vancouver Police Department said that it would be inappropriate to comment on matters that are before the courts, specifically personnel matters.