Veteran VPD officer arrested, charged with sexual exploitation
Posted December 29, 2016 3:26 pm.
Last Updated December 30, 2016 2:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A Vancouver Police officer with 29 years on the job has been arrested and charged with six criminal offences following an investigation that lasted several months.
.@VancouverPD announce Detective Cst. James Fisher, facing sex charges. Fisher is a member of counter-exploitation unit #yvr #crime pic.twitter.com/hpBCW9zUKJ
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel) December 29, 2016
There is a publication ban in place, however, some details are being released about Detective Constable James Fisher. He has been charged with three counts of sexual exploitation, one count of sexual assault, one count of breach of trust and one count of attempt to obstruct justice.
Chief Adam Palmer says one of their own members came forward in March of this year with information about the case. “At which point we initiated an investigation into the actions of one of our officers. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner was notified of the investigation immediately and was updated on progress throughout.”
He adds the investigation time period ranges from August 2015 to last month. “It is rare for a VPD officer to be charged with offences such as these and it is not reflective of the other members of our police department. And there is no information to suggest that any other officer was involved.”
Palmer says he was extremely upset when he heard about the case, describing it as “troubling news” and he has a message for the public. “VPD members do an exemplary job every single day they come to work. We have amazing people that work here and I think our reputation stands for itself and this is not reflective of the other members of the Vancouver Police Department.”
LISTEN: NEWS 1130’s Sonia Aslam joins anchors Tim James and Alison Bailey to talk about the case
Fisher is a member of the VPD’s Counter Exploitation Unit and was taken off active duty on Wednesday. Palmer says there are at least two victims the force knows about — one youth and one adult.
Crown Counsel says Fisher was released on bail this morning and is bound by several court conditions. He is expected back in Surrey Provincial Court on January 24th.
Palmer stresses this investigation had nothing to do with local vigilante group Creep Catchers.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 604.717.0607.
