A member of British Columbia’s gang unit has been involved in a pedestrian collision while off-duty, according to the province’s police watchdog.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening in Surrey, when the off-duty officer was driving a personal vehicle and struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has been called in to investigate the incident. The IIO is responsible for conducting investigations into incidents involving police officers that result in serious harm or death.
The IIO has confirmed that the off-duty officer involved is a member of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), which is responsible for targeting organized crime and gang activity in the province.
The CFSEU has released a statement expressing their concern for the pedestrian and their family, and stating that they are cooperating fully with the IIO’s investigation.
The IIO has also stated that they are in the early stages of their investigation and are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. They have not yet determined if the off-duty officer was on duty at the time of the incident.
This is not the first time a member of the CFSEU has been involved in a serious incident. In 2018, an on-duty officer with the unit was involved in a shooting that resulted in the death of a suspect.
The IIO is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information to contact them at 1-855-446-8477.
The CFSEU has stated that they will not be commenting further on the incident while the IIO investigation is ongoing.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that police officers face, both on and off duty, while working to keep our communities safe. The IIO’s investigation will provide a thorough and impartial examination of the incident, and we must allow them to complete their work before drawing any conclusions.
