No spyware on Saanich mayor Richard Atwell's computer: police
Nothing criminal about installing security software on Saanich mayor's computer: police
Saanich, B.C. police say they have found nothing wrong with security software installed on computers at city hall after Mayor Richard Atwell alleged he was being spied on.
The Saanich councillors were told by Police Chief Bob Downie that his department had determined that no criminal offence had taken place, according to a press release.
"In this case, the software was installed to manage the integrity of the computer system and protect the computer system against any illegal attack," the press release stated.
The mayor said he would send another letter to the B.C. Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.
"I am stunned by this statement," he said of the council's press release.
"I cannot understand why Saanich police do not understand why they are in a conflict of interest on this and in the coming days I will be forwarding a complaint."
Alleged police harassment
Atwell also said on Monday that he was the victim of police harassment.
"Police pulled me over not once, not twice, not three times, but on four separate occasions," Atwell said at the time. "On two instances, the officer administered a road-side breathalyzer test, which I believe was done without reasonable suspicion," he said.
He said his breathalyzers blew a reading of zero.
The mayor also admitted he lied about having an extramarital affair with one of his campaign volunteers, although he categorically denied the affair previously.
Atwell has been embroiled in controversy since the Times Colonist reported that police responded to a disturbance involving the mayor at the home of one of his campaign workers on Dec. 11.