Reasons behind chief's resignation may not be made public, says commissioner

Ryneveld said Thursday the Police Act only allows him to publicly release information about officers who are in service, and since Battershill quit Wednesday, he may not be permitted to go public with information about the former chief.

Victoria's Mayor Alan Lowe appeared to suggest that Ryneveld's office had the power to shed light on the dark mystery surrounding Battershill's paid leave from duty last October and his abrupt resignation Wednesday, days before a scheduled Aug. 18 disciplinary hearing.

"The act applies to serving municipal police officers," said Ryneveld. "By the resignation of Paul Battershill, the question arises: do I have any jurisdiction to do it?"

Ryneveld said he's run into this issue before where officers facing discipline issues quit, retire or move before the matter is settled.

He said he's called for changes in the past that will allow his office to complete their investigations even if the officers retires, quits or moves, but the Police Act has not been changed.

Ryneveld said he will look into launching a legal challenge to the Police Act in order to fight rules that restrict him from making public information about officers no longer on duty.

"I'm going to obviously have to make a legal argument here," he said.

Lowe called a news conference Wednesday to announce Battershill's resignation but said he couldn't provide details about the reasons why the former chief quit.

He appeared to hand that issue over to Ryneveld, saying the commissioner has the power to call a public hearing.

An RCMP investigator appointed by Ryneveld's office found no criminal wrongdoing or financial irregularities by the former chief.

Battershill was placed on administrative leave last October for an undisclosed personnel matter. He announced his immediate resignation days prior to Monday's scheduled disciplinary hearing.

Victoria has already launched a search for a new police chief.