West Vancouver police chief Peter Lepine has announced his retirement, Global News has confirmed.
The retirement comes after reports of a scathing employee review that complains of a lack of action by management on sexual harassment, bullying and racism.
Lepine insists his resignation has nothing to do with the complaints of a toxic work environment and the allegations about management, according to reports.
Lepine joined the West Vancouver Police Department in September 2009, after a 30-year career as a member of the RCMP.
He has worked as a Mountie in Surrey, Port Alberni, Parksville and Coquitlam.
The District of West Vancouver mayor and chair of the West Vancouver Police Board Michael Smith thanked Lepine in a statement for his five years of service to the department.
The statement also addressed reports that Lepine’s resignation may be connected to staff complaints.
“While it is clear there are important matters to deal with at the WVPD, the citizens of West Vancouver can be assured that the community has been, and continues to be, served well by the West Vancouver Police Department. We are proud of our 102-year-old force and, in surveys, the citizens of West Vancouver tell us that they are more than satisfied with the service they receive from the force. The men and women of our police force keep our community safe and perform at a consistently high level every day,” the statement said.
Smith said that neither the police board nor the District of West Vancouver has any tolerance for racism, sexual innuendo, bullying, or backlash against whistleblowers.
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“All our employees are to be treated respectfully and supported by their supervisors. The WVPD is taking quick and decisive action to address problems that they become aware of and will continue to investigate any allegations of improper behaviour. Our goal is always to make sure that our police force continues to provide the high level of service that our public expects.”
The board will begin a search for a new chief immediately, Smith said.
Former WVPD chief and former B.C. minister of public safety and solicitor general Kash Heed said staff members told him about the complaints of sexual harassment, bullying, and racism.
“I was aware for quite some time there were some issues, but I thought those issues were being dealt with by the senior management team of the West Vancouver Police Department, but it appears they have not been dealt with.”
Heed said those issues, coupled with a “damning” employee satisfaction survey, are very concerning.
“Bringing those issues to the attention of people within the department and not having them dealt with in an effective and an efficient way… the morale tanks,” he said, adding that he hasn’t considered returning to the department.
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