Two police officers in Greater Victoria have been charged with “unlawful sexual contact” with a woman they met while on duty.
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The Central Saanich Police Service asked the Vancouver Police Department to investigate after receiving a report of the allegations on Oct. 28.
On Tuesday, prosecutors filed charges against Matthew Ball, 43, for sexual assault and breach of trust for alleged offences between Feb. 1, 2019, and Oct. 31, 2023. Ball, a sergeant, worked for the Calgary Police Service for 12 years and has been in Central Saanich since 2016.
Ryan Johnson, 40, was charged with sexual assault for alleged offences between Feb. 6 and March 8, 2020. Johnson became a constable in Central Saanich in 2017.
“Allegations like these are deeply corrosive to the public trust police officers depend on to keep their communities safe,” said VPD Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson.
“To maintain trust in the criminal justice system, we must always be prepared to fully investigate allegations of misconduct and wrongdoing within our own ranks, and to recommend criminal charges when compelling evidence exists.”
Ball and Johnson are believed to have acted independently, Wilson alleged, but had “separate, intimate relationships at different times” with the woman.
She said because Central Saanich is a small community, it was likely the officers knew each other, but investigators have found no evidence there is a connection between the two alleged crimes.
Wilson thanked the woman who came forward for her “courage” and said the VPD continues to work to support her. She said the victim was a member of the general public and did not work in law enforcement.
Both suspects were arrested Tuesday morning by Vancouver police officers, with help from the Victoria Police Department.
Wilson said 25 investigators worked on the case over the past seven weeks. She said it is possible additional charges could be forthcoming as the investigation is “active and ongoing.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the VPD’s dedicated tip line at 604-717-0604.
Central Saanich Police Service patrols the municipality in Greater Victoria of around 18,000 residents and lists only 28 active officers.