No public hearing will be held into Vancouver police officer's dismissal

British Columbia's police complaint commissioner has decided not to hold a public hearing into the dismissal of a senior Vancouver police officer for discreditable conduct after an inappropriate relationship with a junior constable who died by suicide.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner says in a statement that Sgt. Dave Van Patten also has not requested the decision be reviewed by a retired judge at a public hearing.

Earlier this year, the office said Const. Nicole Chan killed herself in January 2019 and the police complaint commissioner ordered an investigation, which was conducted by the New Westminster police.

Police complaint commissioner Clayton Pecknold has recommended that the Vancouver police board use an independent expert to review the department's policies on workplace relationships involving power dynamics, supervisory and leadership functions, and vulnerable employees.

Pecknold says the board should make the findings of the review public.

He says if the board doesn't act on the recommendation, the director of police services should undertake an independent audit of the police department's policies.