A Delta Police officer will be dismissed from the force after a review by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC).
Const. Felipe Gomes admitted to four counts of deceit and one count of neglect of duty under the Police Act and in early January then-DPD chief Jim Cessford recommended Gomes, 33, be dismissed from the force. The recommendation followed a 26-month investigation over concerns he kept inadequate notes on police files for many years and made false claims to professional standards investigators.
The DPD was notified by the OPCC of the decision on Monday (June 29).
Adjudicator Alan Filmer, a retired judge, found Gomes was no longer able to fill the role of police officer.
“The allegations against him, which have been proven, are very serious and lasting in their impact,” he said, noting the only appropriate discipline is dismissal.
The decision emphasized the importance of an officer’s notebook, saying the notes can add to the credibility of an officer and reinforce testimony in court. Failure to provide accurate notes “could have significant consequences,” wrote Filmer, calling Gomes’ admission he didn’t keep adequate notes from April 2005 to January 2013 “very troubling.”
DPD Chief Const. Neil Dubord said he respected the adjudicator’s decision.
“It is of utmost importance to the Delta Police Department that we all adhere to our core values of honour, integrity, courage, and trust; when the personal values of one do not align with the core values upheld by the men and women of the Delta Police Department, appropriate action must be taken.”
Whenever a dismissal or loss of rank is recommended, a police officer is entitled to a review or a public hearing. The decision is final and there are no further appeal processes available for Gomes. He had been a DPD member since 2004.
