B.C.'s police complaint commissioner this week announced a public inquiry into the conduct of two Delta police officers.
In September 2011, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner received a complaint alleging that Constables Aaron Hill and Aaron McRae tackled a man off his bike and repeatedly smashed his face into the cement and kicked him in the ribs during an arrest.
The complaint alleges abuse of authority, damage to property of others, deceit and neglect of duty on the part of the two officers.
The complaint has already been extensively reviewed. Initially it was forwarded to the Delta Police Department's professional standards section. It was investigated and found only the neglect of duty allegation was substantiated.
In December 2012, the police complaint commissioner decided to send the complaint to a judicial review after determining that there was a reasonable basis to believe that the initial decision was incorrect.
In June, after reviewing the case retired judge Jakob S. De Villiers dismissed all the allegations against the officers. Noting in his findings, however, that he thought he was not able to cross-examine those who testified and the complainant was not allowed to participate in the proceedings.
On Wednesday, Stan Lowe, police complaint commissioner, announced that after reviewing the investigation and the proceedings to date he came to the determination that a public hearing is required "as there is a reasonable basis to believe that the... findings are incorrect and that it is also necessary in the public interest."
Delta police spokesperson Sgt. Ciaran Feenan said that the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner had contemporaneous oversight during the entire investigation.
"The Delta Police Department support civilian oversight," he said.
Both officers remain on active duty.
A date for the public hearing has not yet been set.
