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The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is ordering a review of a disciplinary decision by the Vancouver Police Department against one of its officers for impaired driving.
Commissioner Prabhu Rajan, who oversees the civilian agency that investigates complaints and issues involving B.C.’s municipal police forces, said the disciplinary action against Const. Samuel Cheung doesn’t appear adequate given the severity of his actions.
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Cheung was off-duty and behind the wheel when his vehicle rear-ended a van in Delta on July 2, 2022. He failed a breath sample and was issued a 24-hour prohibition.
In April 18, 2023, Cheung pleaded guilty to a Motor Vehicle Act offence.
He was also investigated by the VPD’s police professional standards section for two allegations under the Police Act: one count of discreditable conduct for driving a vehicle with blood alcohol over the legal limit and another count of corrupt practice for telling a Delta police officer at the scene that he was a VPD officer.
A VPD discipline authority found the misconduct allegation was substantiated and suspended him for five days without pay. The second allegation of corrupt practice was found to be unsubstantiated and dismissed.
Rajan said a review on record is required because there is “reasonable basis to believe” the disciplinary action was not sufficient.
He cited evidence that Cheung “tossed” a can of beer from the vehicle into the bushes on the side of the road after the collision. A beer was also found underneath his vehicle.
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