'A smack on the hand:' Current, former Vancouver police officers upset suspended cop keeps his job

Const. Keiron McConnell , one of Vancouver Police Department's longest-serving officers, was suspended last month for sexual harassment.

McConnell admitted to misconduct involving sexual harassment of five women between 2015 and 2019 .

McConnell sent repeated unsolicited and unwelcome sexual messages to younger female VPD officers, as well as students at post-secondary institutions.

McConnell initially denied any discreditable conduct in relation to the allegations by seven women.

One current VPD officer said the situation is “causing a lot of morale issues” inside the department.

The VPD said it has created a new stand-alone policy on sexual harassment as a result of the McConnell decision.

McConnell is on leave and hasn’t yet begun serving the unpaid suspension announced last month .

McConnell ’s case shows “a pattern of disrespect, such as that he is not someone who should be employed as a police officer”.

“The pendulum was swinging in the right direction” and culture was getting better for women, officer says.

“We’re regressing.” Bergler said this case illustrates what she calls “the VPD way” When people, especially men who are well-connected inside the department, are accused of this kind of misconduct, she says.