Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2014
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Katie DeRosa
Page: A3
Cited: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition: http://www.leap.cc/

OFFICER'S BOSSES DROPPED FROM COMPLAINT

Constable Who Wants Drugs Legalized Said Former Chief Discriminated Against Him

Former Victoria police chief Jamie Graham and Insp. Jamie Pearce have 
been removed from a human rights complaint filed by an officer who 
says he was discriminated against based on his political views.

Const. David Bratzer, an outspoken advocate for drug legalization, 
filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal last year 
saying the department's senior management, including Graham and 
Pearce, warned him not to speak about drug legalization while 
off-duty. Bratzer is the president of the Canadian branch of Law 
Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international organization 
of current and former law-enforcement officials pushing for full 
legalization and regulation of drugs.

Bratzer specifically named Graham and Pearce in addition to the 
department because he said they "attempted to seize control of his 
private life" and, therefore, stepped beyond their bounds of an 
employer's scope.

The tribunal decided Graham and Pearce should be removed as 
respondents because they were acting in the course of their duty on 
behalf of the police department.

"I find that Chief Graham and Const. Pearce were acting within the 
scope of their managerial authority on behalf of the VicPD," tribunal 
member Robert Blasina wrote.

Graham has since retired and Pearce is no longer Bratzer's direct supervisor.

The complaint against Victoria police still stands and is still being 
deliberated by the tribunal.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom