The chief of the Victoria Police Department says there is still “work to do” in the wake of a scathing report that found former chief Frank Elsner committed eight acts of misconduct while in office.
“The behaviour that was described in the final report is simply unacceptable in the workplace,” Chief Del Manak told a news conference on Friday.
Senior managers in the department will work with the police board and union leaders to identify and address all workplace issues that made Mr. Elsner’s actions possible, he said.
“How could this behaviour have occurred in our midst?” Chief Manak said, questioning if the force did enough to immediately identify Mr. Elsner’s misconduct and take action to prevent it from happening again.
He pointed to the recently created diversity and inclusion executive committee and mandatory anti-bullying and harassment training and ethics courses as signs the department is committed to a healthier work environment. He also praised the “brave and ethical people at this police department,” who witnessed Mr. Elsner’s actions and spoke up.
“Their courageous actions led directly to Wednesday’s final report by the [Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner],” Chief Manak said.
Commissioner Stan Lowe found Mr. Elsner had been “caught in a web of untruths” that began when the former chief sent inappropriate Twitter messages to the wife of an officer in his department.
Mr. Elsner lied to investigators, minimized the inappropriate comments, encouraged another witness to make a false statement, had unwanted physical contact with two female officers, made inappropriate sexual remarks to another and misused department equipment, Commissioner Lowe found.
He resigned as chief last May but, Commissioner Lowe demoted him to the rank of constable and dismissed him from policing.
Mr. Elsner could not be reached for comment.