Extension granted for Elsner investigations

Investigators looking into allegations of misconduct by Victoria’s embattled police chief have once again been granted more time to complete their work.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has extended the timeline for a series of investigations involving Frank Elsner. Elsner is alleged to have sent inappropriate Twitter messages to the wife of one of his officers, then is accused of making false statements and deleting data arising from the original investigation.

The reviews were scheduled to be done by Friday, but investigators were granted an extension until Nov. 30.

Investigators have completed 160 tasks in the probe, but still have work to do, including examining a substantial amount of electronic evidence and interviewing Elsner, said police complaint commissioner Stan Lowe in a notice about the extension.

In December, Elsner issued a statement saying he was “truly sorry and humiliated” for exchanging social media messages with the woman, an officer in a neighbouring jurisdiction.

He stepped aside from his duties, pending the results of two investigations into his conduct, but was suspended in April after a third probe was announced.

The third investigation was launched when new information surfaced containing the allegations of false statements and the deletion of data. Deputy police complaints commissioner Rollie Woods said at the time that Elsner faces 11 allegations of misconduct.

None of the allegations has been proven.

Elsner petitioned the court to try to block the external reviews, claiming in documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court in March that the police complaint commissioner doesn’t have the authority for the probe after an internal review had already been conducted.

Lowe said in the extension notice that the ongoing investigation has an impact on the Victoria Police Department, but there’s also public interest in making sure the issues are fully addressed, and doing that takes time.