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Complaints Against Transit Police
Complaints Against Transit Police
In Vancouver, the Transit Police Service (common name for the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service or GVTAPS) provides policing on and around the public transit system.
Transit Police have the same policing powers and authority as local police. The public can lodge complaints against Transit Police in the same way they can lodge complaints about police officers.
Transit officers wear a police uniform and insignia with shoulder flashes bearing the word "Police." This helps to distinguish transit officers from security workers and to identify the scope of their authority.
To learn more about what Transit Police can and cannot do, see this description of Different Types of Security. You can also refer to the Question and Answer section of the GVTAPS website. It answers a range of commonly asked questions about Transit police.
If you have a complaint against the police, or the Transit Police, in British Columbia, you have a right to say what happened and to be listened to. There are three different types of complaints that can be made:
- service or policy complaints - complaints regarding a Department policy, procedure and service provided;
- public trust complaints - these complaints deal with allegations of misconduct by an officer; and
- internal discipline complaints - these complaints generally involve an officer's conduct that is of concern to his employer, but does not affect the public.
85% of all public complaints received in 2006 fell under the public trust category. These complaints are about the actions or conduct of police officers. When warranted, public trust complaints may result in disciplinary or corrective measures in relation to the officer concerned. (Pages 19 through 30 of the 2006 OPCC Annual Report lists summaries of public trust complaints and the remedies imposed).
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) is responsible for dealing with complaints against municipal and transit police in BC. They prefer that complaints be submitted on a standard form called a "Form One Record of Complaint."
The complaint form and an information pamphlet about the complaint process is available online in multiple languages here. All complaints should be made in writing within 12 months of the incident. There is no cost to file a complaint.
See the contact information below for other ways to get in touch with the OPCC.
You can also contact the Professional Standards Unit of the Transit Police Service for assistance and copies of required forms.
Once a complaint has been received by the OPCC, a copy will be forwarded to the Chief Constable of the department where the complaint originated. If a complaint is made at a police department, a copy will be forwarded to the OPCC.
Complaints are usually assigned to a department's Professional Standards' member for investigation. The investigator must provide you, the officer you complained against, and the OPCC with periodic progress reports of the investigation. Investigations must be completed within 6 months of the date the complaint was first received.
Public Trust Complaints usually account for the greatest number of complaints and are dealt with in one of three ways:
- informal resolution - a complaint may be resolved between the parties with the assistance of an Investigator or a professional mediator. This form of resolution is considered a success when both parties sign a letter indicating agreement.
- summary dismissal - public trust complaints can by dismissed if it is determined that: there is no reasonable likelihood that further investigation will reveal evidence that the officer committed a default; the complaint is about an incident that occurred more than 12 months ago, and / or the allegations have no air of reality or are deemed to be vexatious. If you don't agree with a summary dismissal decision, you may request a review.
- investigation and conclusion - complaints against officers will be fully and thoroughly investigated if it is not informally resolved or summarily dismissed. In rare circumstances, an external agency may investigate the complaint. Formal investigations must normally be completed within 6 months but extensions can be granted. If the person complaining is not satisfied with the results of this investigation, they may apply to the Police Complaint Commissioner for a Public Hearing.
Service or Policy Complaints are about policies, procedures and services provided by police and affect the relationship between police and the community. For example, this type of complaint may be with respect to the insufficient number of officers being assigned to a public event.
Service or Policy complaints are the responsibility of each municipal police board. In the case of Transit Police in Vancouver, the GVTA has its own police board that would deal with this type of complaint. Contact information is listed below.
If you need help filling out a complaint, the Transit Police Service or the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner can provide information and copies of complaint forms, and answer any questions you may have.
The BC Civil Liberties Association and Pivot Legal Society are two non-profit community organizations that have direct experience in dealing with police complaints and you may wish to check out their websites or contact them directly for more information.
One of the low cost legal service options listed in our links section may also be able to help.
Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service
c/o Professional Standards Unit
307 Columbia Street
New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 1A7
Phone: 604.515.8300
Fax: 604.515.8301
www.gvtaps.bc.ca
Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Board
c/o Board Secretary
1600-4720 Kingsway
Burnaby, British Columbia V5H 4N2
Phone: 604.453-4611
Fax: 604-453-4642
Email: board@gvtaps.com
www.gvtaps.bc.ca
Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner
Suite 320-1111 Melville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6
Phone: 604-660-2385
Fax: 604-660.1223