VPU criticizes deputy chief's comments on sexual assault case after police officer's death

Warning: this story contains a reference to suicide.

The president of the Vancouver Police Union is lashing out at one of the department’s highest-ranking officers, criticizing the “tone and language” she used when she informed the public that two members of another service had been arrested for sexual assault.

Ralph Kaisers wrote a letter to members following the announcement that an investigation by the Vancouver Police Department has resulted in two Central Saanich Police Department officers being criminally charged in connection with allegations which they allegedly sexually assaulted the same woman.

One of those officers, Sgt. Matthew Ball, committed suicide after being released, sources confirmed to CTV News.

Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson – who heads the VPD’s investigations section and reports directly to Chief Const. Adam Palmer – announced the charges via a press release and press conference on Tuesday.

In Kaisers’ letter, obtained by CTV News, he takes issue with a specific quote in the written statement.

“Allegations like these are deeply corrosive to the public trust that police officers depend on to keep their communities safe,” Wilson said.

According to Kaisers, this statement went beyond what was necessary in the circumstances.

“I share your concerns about how public statements, especially those that are overly loaded, can influence public perception and affect the morale of law enforcement professionals,” he wrote.

“Describing the allegations as ‘deeply corrosive to the public trust’ before any trial or conviction not only prejudges the case, but also casts a shadow over the entire law enforcement community, which works with diligence and integrity to serve its communities. the intention may be to demonstrate accountability, such statements must be measured to avoid eroding trust in our profession.

The letter goes on to address Ball’s death, calling it a “tragic loss” that illustrates the need for “police services across British Columbia to practice what we preach when it comes to well-being and trauma-informed approaches.”

Without explicitly linking Wilson’s statement to Ball’s suicide, Kaisers says the “incident” illustrates that the department “can and must do better.”

The letter ends with Kaisers offering condolences to those affected and thanking the officers who assisted in the VPD investigation.

Ball was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of breach of trust, and was due to appear in court in Victoria on January 15, 2025.

Const. Ryan Johnston, who was charged with one count of sexual assault as part of the investigation, will appear in court on that date.

The Vancouver Police Department declined to comment on the letter.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources available:

Suicide helpline (988)

Center for Addiction and Mental Health (1-800-463-2338)

Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or 45645 by SMS)

Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)

If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.