Richard Atwell, Saanich mayor, asked to step down as police board chair
B.C. justice ministry declines police board request to conduct investigation into Atwell
The Saanich, B.C. police board is asking beleaguered mayor Richard Atwell to step down as its chair — the first since he accused the police force of harassing him and leaking details of a 9-1-1 call.
The request follows the police board's decision to ask the B.C. Ministry of Justice to investigate Atwell.
"The Saanich Police Board informed Mayor Richard Atwell that they would be requesting the Honourable Suzanne Anton, Minister of Justice, to have her ministry conduct an investigation into recent activities by Mayor Atwell that the Board believes puts its members in an untenable position," said a statement from the board released Thursday.
But late in the day Anton declined saying her ministry is not the correct avenue for this kind of an investigation.
"I am aware of the request for an investigation, but for the kinds of allegations the mayor has made, the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner is the appropriate avenue for him — or any member of the public — to purse complaints about police conduct," she said in an emailed statement.
Anton said that if Atwell is unable to continue as board chair, the police board members could elect a new chair from among themselves under the Police Act.
As for the mayor, he said he needs some time and legal advice about whether he should stay on as chair.
Embroiled in controversy
It's been only three months since Atwell was elected in a surprise victory over six-term incumbent Frank Leonard.
Since then, the mayor said he was the victim of spying and police harassment, while also admitting he lied about having an extramarital affair with one of his campaign volunteers.
He claims Saanich police have pulled him over four times and administered a road-side breathalyzer test, although he blew readings of zero.
He says the city's IT department installed spyware on his work computer, but a police review says the IT staff only installed security software.
The mayor said he has sent two letters to the B.C. Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, saying on Tuesday that he was stunned by the fact that the police did not see a conflict of interest in doing the review.
"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," he said at the time.