New Westminster Chief Const. Dave Jones has accepted the resignation of a police officer involved in an altercation with a newspaper delivery person in 2009.
A press release from the New Westminster Police Service states that Const. Jeff Klassen submitted his resignation to the chief on May 3, and Jones accepted his resignation.
"While it is not the normal practice for NWPD to comment on personnel matters, given the elevated amount of media interest regarding Mr. Klassen, it was decided it was in the public interest to release this information," said the press release issued on May 7.
Klassen and two other off-duty police officers were arrested by members of the Vancouver Police Department on Jan. 21, 2009. The arrests came after an altercation with newspaper deliveryman Firoz Khan while the officers were off-duty and intoxicated.
The New Westminster Police Service immediately launched an investigation under the Police Act, and then-Chief Const. Lorne Zapotichny suspended Klassen with pay. After being charged criminally with assault and possession of stolen property, Klassen was found guilty of assault by Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Jodie Werier on April 5, 2011.
The New Westminster police board stopped paying Klassen on April 20, 2011, after reviewing the circumstances associated with his suspension. On June 10, 2011, Judge Werier sentenced Klassen to a conditional discharge and placed him on probation for one year.
According to the New Westminster Police Service, the Police Act matters involving Klassen have not been resolved. Under the previous Police Act, when a member's employment as a police officer ended, the Police Act matters were automatically terminated. But under the current Police Act, the New Westminster Police Service must conclude the investigation and report to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner with both findings and recommendations as if the subject officer were still employed.
"Under the circumstances, the NWPD is limited in making further comment at this time," said the press release. "What the NWPD can confirm is that the decision on resignation was made by Mr. Klassen and no financial incentive or package was offered or given to him by the NWPD in return for his resignation. Also, at the time of his resignation, he remained suspended without pay."
Klassen, who was a use-of-force instructor at the police academy, had been a New Westminster officer since 2006.
Klassen's co-accused, West Vancouver Const. Griffin Gillan, pleaded guilty to assaulting Khan and was given a conditional sentence in July 2009.
