Officers investigating fellow officer cleared

WINNIPEG • An agency that reviews serious police actions has concluded no charges should be laid against two Winnipeg officers whose conduct was questioned following a fatal hit-and-run.

The two had been part of an investigation of a third officer, Const. Justin Holz, accused of impaired driving in the death of a pedestrian.

The two officers were put on administrative leave when their actions during the investigation raised concerns.

Zane Tessler, civilian director of the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, says he’s not satisfied that either officer intentionally interfered with or tried to obstruct the investigation.

He says in a release that no further details will be provided for now because of the outstanding charges against the third officer.

Winnipeg’s police chief has said that on the night the 23-year-old man was hit, Holz was given a breathalyzer three to four hours after arresting officers suspected he was impaired. Holz was off-duty at the time.

The Independent Investigation Unit was set up following the death of Crystal Taman, whose car was rearended at an intersection by an off-duty officer in 2005.

The officer in that case, Derek Harvey- Zenk, had been out partying all night with fellow officers.

The police investigation into that case was botched, and charges of i mpaired driving were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

A public inquiry examined the case and recommended the establishment of an independent unit so that police would not investigate themselves. The unit investigates all serious actions involving police officers in Manitoba, including the RCMP, whether occurring on or off duty.