It's been a rough year for Victoria police.
First chief Paul Battershill is suspended under a cloud. Then he quit right before being found guilty of discreditable conduct, for allegedly having an elicit affair with police board lawyer
Now, as the force looks for renewal, it finds itself mired in more controversy.
A new chief has been selected, but the decision is secret.
All suggestions are that it is former Vancouver chief Jamie Graham, a controversial figure who was also found guilty of discreditable conduct.
Now, the timing of this decision is also stirring up controversy.
On Saturday, Victoria will elect a new mayor, a person who will become the new chair of the police board. Rather than waiting a few days for that person to take office, the decision to hire a new chief has been made already.
Dean Fortin wants to be Victoria's next mayor, and he's critical of the rushed decision.
"Personally, I had hoped they would have waited, Fortin said.
"There is a new chair of the board coming in,'' he said.
"You normally wouldn't think of hiring a new executive officer with the thought that a new chair of the board is coming in. This is what's happening at the police."
Rob Reid, the other leading mayoral candidate, is irritated too.
"The new mayor, being part of the board, should be involved in the process,'' he said.
But outgoing mayor Alan Lowe is defending his decision to go ahead with a hire
"Not at all,'' was his reply when he was asked by a CTV reporter if it wouldn't be more fair to the new incoming mayor to let him have some say?
Lowe said the process should be non political. "We're trying to keep the politics out of it,'' he said.
So whoever becomes mayor will be stuck working with a police chief that is not of his choosing.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty
