Victoria police chief steps aside amid investigations

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – He’s admitted to sending inappropriate messages to the wife of one of the officers in his command, and now Victoria’s police chief is set to be the subject of two independent investigations.

Embattled Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner has voluntarily stepped aside while several investigations are being launched into his conduct.

Police board co-chairwoman and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins told reporters that Elsner informed the board he will remain off the job until the investigations have been concluded.

Desjardins says the chief will be on paid leave and that deputy chief Del Manak will take over the job in the interim.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner set off investigations by the RCMP and two retired judges after a growing social media scandal involving Elsner.

Beyond the conduct we already knew about — that Elsner had been using social media to flirt with the wife of one of his men, there are also accusations about workplace harassment that have come out.

According to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, four officers in the Victoria Police department have come forward claiming that they were victimized.

The Mounties have been assigned to investigate Chief Elsner’s conduct.

The mayors of the two municipalities the department serves, Esquimalt and Victoria, have stood by the chief to date since his initial apology for those Twitter messages.

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