INSIDE WEST VAN’S TROUBLED COP SHOP
Fired officer comes forward with allegations of corruption, sex and harassment
As a management crisis continues to unravel in the West Vancouver police department, a fired officer is asking B.C.’s attorney general to reexamine his allegations of “corrupt practice” against department brass.
Todd Mosher — who was fired in 2011 after accusing a fellow officer of skipping off work for sex dates with a West Vancouver police dispatcher — is one of a number of current and former officers who allege the municipal force is marred by harassment, bullying and inappropriate sexual and racial comments.
“I had stars in my eyes when I became a cop until I got immersed in the culture, and it is unbelievable,” Mosher said. “The public has no idea what goes on behind closed doors, and they need to know about what is going on in that department.”
Mosher said that after years of good service he became victim of an interdepartment clash that erupted with former chief Kash Heed’s volatile period of reforms.
“Shortly after Kash left, an officer came up to me and said, ‘What’s it like to have a target on your back? ... now that your buddy Kash is gone, you are fair game,’” Mosher said.
Adamning November 2013 employee survey reported by The Province on Monday underlined serious complaints against department brass. Chief Const. Peter Lepine announced his retirement Monday — saying it was not in connection with the unfolding crisis — and West Vancouver mayor and police board chair Mike Smith says more changes at the top could come soon.
Mosher, according to official documents and a number of interviews conducted by The Province, was a hard-working, “outside the box” officer who apparently made enemies because he repeatedly challenged authority.
Mosher admits he made some mistakes on the job, but maintains his firing was due to “retaliation” by West Van brass, not his own conduct.
Mosher said events that led to the end of his career happened after he was cited for leaving work to feed his dog. He said he told supervisors they should investigate two fellow officers allegedly having inappropriate sexual relations while on duty.
Superiors investigated Mosher’s allegations and ruled he had lied about fellow officers, documents say. Management then tabled a lengthy report into Mosher’s career, and he was fired. Mosher challenged the firing before the West Vancouver police board. Mosher said that in turn, the police board inappropriately allowed managers to investigate themselves.
In January, Mosher wrote to Justice Minister and Attorney General Suzanne Anton asking for an update on his request for her to examine his “allegations of deceit, corrupt practice and discreditable conduct made against the Chief Constable and executive staff of the West Vancouver Police Department.”
Anton’s office responded to questions for this story with a brief statement Wednesday: “It is not appropriate for the Attorney General to speak to individual matters.”
Lepine has said that an external investigation by arbitrator Vince Ready found Mosher’s “departure from this organization did not come as a result of retaliation.”