Victoria police assault probe not over yet

B.C. Police Complaints Commission plans review of sergeant and chief's actions

CBC News - November 23, 2011
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11...

The investigation of a Victoria police sergeant isn't over, despite his conviction and sentencing Tuesday for assaulting a prisoner in the city jail.

A provincial court judge ruled George Chong used excessive force in applying a choke-hold that rendered Frank Blair unconscious in January 2010.

The judge sentenced Chong to one year's probation and ordered him to take anger management counseling.

But B.C. Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner Rollie Woods says his office is reviewing Chong's case and how it’s been handled by Victoria Police Chief Jamie Graham.

After an internal disciplinary hearing, Graham ruled that Chong's choke-hold was reasonable and justified.

Woods said his office will decide within a month whether Graham's decision should stand.

“We'll have to have a look at that and maybe it would be worthwhile to have the matter reviewed by a retired judge,” said Woods.

Graham also said Tuesday that Chong, a 29-year veteran of the force and the brother of B.C. cabinet minister Ida Chong, is fit to return to work.

“If I thought the public were at risk or some reason why he couldn't work here, he wouldn’t work here,” said Graham The chief would not say whether Chong will return to his former position as supervisor of police cells, a job the chief appointed him to.