this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2025

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VPD Officer Was Quietly Investigated over an Abusive Relationship with Teen | The Tyee (thetyee.ca)

submitted 2 days ago by HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to c/canada@lemmy.ca

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A brief mention of an abusive relationship between a Vancouver police officer and a teen he met at school in a recent police watchdog report shows a need for more transparency around the identities of officers who commit misconduct, says a civil liberties advocate.

Without knowing the officer’s name, the public has no way of knowing if he went on to work with another police department or to work with young adults, said Meghan McDermott, policy director with the BC Civil Liberties Association.

“Where is he now? He might be working as a member of the RCMP somewhere and he might be in a school in the Okanagan. We don’t know,” McDermott said.

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[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

As always, ACAB.

[–] Sunshine@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago

Good thing Ken Sim gave them more funding...

[–] jaselle@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Important context the headline misses: the teenager had graduated high school already, so was presumably of age.

Although not criminal in nature, the relationship was highly inappropriate. The officer was dismissed.

Okay so two adults have a legal relationship... why should the public deserve to know their names?

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Because of the power imbalance.

[–] jaselle@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

What power imbalance? Because he's a cop? Should police officers not be allowed to have relationships with non-cops?

(Yes, I know about the 40% rule -- but it was determined nothing illegal had happened here.)

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

After the student graduated, the two started an intimate relationship. The investigation summary says the officer lied to the student about his age and was both emotionally and verbally abusive towards the young woman.

[–] jaselle@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I saw that yes. Let me put it to you this way -- Either the law should be amended so that what he did be illegal, or we should leave the former officer alone.

We don't know what he did, and some forms of abuse can't really be made illegal. Perhaps he was merely unfaithful, or called her a bitch when they fought -- should these really be crimes?

(and you didn't answer my question -- what power imbalance?)