Should Thaper Be Fired Since Surrey police Confirmed Two Allegations Of Discreditable Conduct And Another Of Corrupt Practice?
The much maligned Surrey Police Service (SPS), number of whose new officers have found themselves in trouble, is in the news again for the wrong reason as another of it’s officers, an Indo-Canadian cop, was caught driving drunk and tried to weasel out of it by telling the arresting Delta Police officer to let him go with a warning because he was a cop with SPS. Const. Rajbir Thaper was off duty at the time and Commissioner Clayton Pecknold says he made it clear that he was an SPS officer and asked to be let off with a warning — allegedly saying the failed test would “ruin his life.” An investigation by Surrey police confirmed two allegations of discreditable conduct and another of corrupt practice against Const. Rajbir Thaper, but proposed discipline amounting to five days of unpaid suspension was inadequate and a concurrent three-day suspension for seeking preferential treatment, as well as a written reprimand for driving with an expired license.
By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files
SURREY – The much maligned Surrey Police Service (SPS), number of whose new officers have found themselves in trouble, is in the news again for the wrong reason as another of it’s officers, an Indo-Canadian cop, was caught driving drunk and tried to weasel out of it by telling the arresting Delta Police officer to let him go with a warning because he was a cop with SPS.
A review has been ordered against Const. Rajbir Thaper after being caught driving while impaired.
B.C.’s Police Complaint Commissioner says Thaper failed a breath test in August 2022 after being pulled over by a Delta Police Department (DPD) officer in Delta.
“The DPD investigating member noted an odour of liquor on [Thaber’s] breath and glossy eyes, and the [Thaber] stated that he had consumed one beer an hour and a half prior to the stop,” Commissioner Clayton Pecknold noted in his review.
Thaper was off duty at the time and Pecknold says he made it clear that he was an SPS officer and asked to be let off with a warning — allegedly saying the failed test would “ruin his life.”
Regardless, he was served an immediate 90-day driving ban and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Pecknold ordered the SPS to investigate Thaper’s conduct, and it recommended he receive an unpaid five-day suspension, a written reprimand, and an additional three-day suspension for seeking preferential treatment, reported CityNews.
Pecknold found the force’s suggested discipline didn’t meet the severity of the Thaber’s conduct.
“The Discipline Authority failed to consider [Thaper’s] own knowledge of the serious implications of impaired driving given [Thaper’s] certification as a Field Sobriety Test Operator,” he stated.
“Attempting to use one’s privileged position as a police officer to seek preferential treatment is a serious affront to the public trust.”
An investigation by Surrey police confirmed two allegations of discreditable conduct and another of corrupt practice against Const. Rajbir Thaper, but proposed discipline amounting to five days of unpaid suspension was inadequate and a concurrent three-day suspension for seeking preferential treatment, as well as a written reprimand for driving with an expired license.
The commissioner’s statement says the proposed discipline doesn’t adequately address the seriousness of the constable’s conduct and a review is necessary in the public interest.
As a result of his findings, Pecknold appointed former BC Supreme Court Judge Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey as the adjudicator in charge of Thaper’s review.
