Convicted Surrey cop remains on duty

By Salim Jiwa

VANCOUVER – A Surrey cop convicted of a criminal charge of assault continues to remain on active duty and RCMP seem to think that is okay.

Const. Frank Lambert was found guilty on a charge of assault on Wednesday by Chilliwack Provincial Court.

The apparently temperamental cop was involved in “pushing” a handcuffed prisoner’s head into the hood of the police car several times, causing a concerned fellow Mountie to raise the issue of excessive force.

“In July 2007, Cst. Lambert was one of several RCMP officers responding to a report of a Break and Enter in progress at a Surrey school,” said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Rob  Vermeulen.

“Six male suspects were apprehended at the scene. While escorting his handcuffed prisoner to a police vehicle, the prisoner made a comment to another prisoner,” he said.

“Cst. Lambert was then observed by another RCMP officer utilizing excessive force in the management of a handcuffed prisoner by pushing him onto the hood of a police car several times. The prisoner was not injured,” said Vermeulen.

“This incident was reported to supervisors and Surrey Detachment initiated both Statutory as well as Code of Conduct investigations,” he said.

 In December 2007 a Report to Crown Counsel was submitted and in January 2008 Cst. Lambert was charged with Assault. He was found guilty of assault in Provincial Court yesterday and sentencing has been tentatively set for February 2010.

Earlier, the commanding officer of Surrey RCMP ruled the code of conduct investigation had been “substantiated.”

“Formal discipline was recommended and the matter is awaiting a formal discipline hearing before an Adjudication Board,” said the police press release.

Lambert has five year of service with Surrey cops.

When asked why he was still on duty despite a criminal conviction, Vermeulen responded: “Who says he can’t be on duty, he has gone through the criminal process and he’s awaiting formal discipline from the adjudication board.”

Vermeulen said the adjudication will decide what form of disciplinary action to take but suggested that the idea of criminal sentencing is rehabilitation.

The question of of whether the public would continue to have confidence in a police officer convicted of a criminal charge, especially in regards to his temperament, remains unanswered.

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Posted by Salim Jiwa on Nov 5 2009. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry