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The RCMP has called in the Abbotsford Police Department to conduct an independent investigation into Kelowna police.
Cst. Ian MacDonald, the public affairs officer for the Abbotsford police, confirmed today that his organization is investigating a “series of allegations” against a member, or members, of the Kelowna RCMP.
MacDonald had little to say about the specifics of the ongoing investigation, but confirmed that “a number of major crime detectives are part of the team,” which has been on the ground in Kelowna since the Labour Day long weekend.
MacDonald did not confirm if the allegations were against a single person, or several individuals.
“We have to chase down each of these allegations to see what connection there could be, and so it would be premature for me to hone in on a specific individual,” he said.
Word of the investigation comes on the heels of an announcement yesterday that Kelowna’s top cop, Supt. Nick Romanchuk, is stepping down.
The RCMP did not say why Romanchuk was retiring, but the former head of the Kelowna RCMP has been off the job since Sept. 6.
Earlier this month, S/Sgt. Rob Vermeulen told KelownaNow that Romanchuk “will be off for an undetermined amount of time.”
The Abbotsford Police Department is an independent police department not connected to the RCMP. The department has 220 officers, and serves a community of 140,000 people.
MacDonald said the department has been asked “numerous times over the years” to conduct independent investigations into outside police forces.
He said the investigation is still ongoing, but that “we would like to conclude sooner rather than later, [however] we have to make sure we’re being thorough.”
Once the investigation is completed, he said, he will be free to release more information.
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