Questions raised over Vancouver police investigating one of their own officers

Recent investigations by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) have raised questions about the independence and objectivity of officers investigating a fellow police member. Constable Kal Dosanjh, a veteran officer and founder of the KidsPlay foundation, is facing criminal charges following a two-year covert investigation into alleged housing development-related wrongdoing. Dosanjh was arrested during a controlled traffic stop in Surrey, B.C., after what the VPD described as a thorough investigation.

Dosanjh has maintained his innocence, stating that he is presumed innocent and that the presumption must be respected. His lawyer, Joven Narwal, expressed concerns about the potential bias and objectivity in an investigation led by a department one's entire professional career. Narwal emphasized that the department's internal investigation raises valid questions about safeguarding and ensuring a fair process when a police department investigates one of its own members, particularly in a case that frames itself as a matter of public trust.

Vancouver police chief, Steve Rai, explained that the investigation began in December 2023 after multiple victims reported criminal activity involving Dosanjh. Rai stated that the department created a dedicated investigative team and immediately took steps to support the victims. Narwal, however, remains skeptical about the independence of the internal investigation, noting that the public perception often leans towards bias when police investigate themselves.

Despite the controversy, former police officer and solicitor general, Kash Heed, supported the decision to keep the investigation within the VPD, citing the department's resources, technology, and investigative skills as the primary reasons for staying in-house.