A Vancouver police logo is pictured on a vehicle in Vancouver, on Dec. 4, 2024. Police in Vancouver are investigating the death of a 92-year-old man who was found injured in an alley in the Downtown Eastside. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Senior Vancouver police sergeant demoted, suspended for sexual harassment
VANCOUVER - A Vancouver police sergeant will be demoted and suspended without pay for 20 days after admitting that he sent inappropriate sexualized messages to female students and fellow officers.
A Vancouver police logo is pictured on a vehicle in Vancouver, on Dec. 4, 2024. Police in Vancouver are investigating the death of a 92-year-old man who was found injured in an alley in the Downtown Eastside. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
VANCOUVER - A Vancouver police sergeant will be demoted and suspended without pay for 20 days after admitting that he sent inappropriate sexualized messages to female students and fellow officers.
The adjudicator in the hearing by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner into Sgt. Keiron McConnell says the department should adopt a “stand alone” policy and training focused on eradicating sexual harassment in the workplace.Â
Retired judge Carol Baird Ellan says McConnell, who will be demoted to first-class constable, will also be required to take counselling and training on proper workplace boundaries with women.
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The discreditable conduct hearing against McConnell concluded Tuesday in Vancouver, where the veteran officer admitted sending unwanted texts and Facebook messages to colleagues and criminology students he taught in B.C. universities between 2015 and 2019.Â
Ellan says McConnell engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour with multiple women, and claimed to be “oblivious” of its impact, despite some of his messages indicating he was aware that they crossed boundaries.
Ellan says the Vancouver Police Department should work with experts to develop training and a policy on sexual harassment, and ensure complainants are protected from “negative consequences” for speaking out.Â
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.Â
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