One of the Royal City’s newest police officers has been suspended following charges stemming from an alleged domestic assault in Vancouver.
New West police announced last week it had suspended David Te after he was charged with criminal charges including one count of mischief, one count of assault and one count of uttering threats, according to a press release from the New Westminster police.
The Times Colonist newspaper in Victoria reported that, for about three years, 35-year-old Te worked for the Saanich Police Department before he was hired in New Westminster.
Before Te started his first shift on Sept. 4, New West police were notified that he had been arrested by the Vancouver Police Department for an alleged domestic violence incident earlier that day, the release stated.
Chief Const. Dave Jones suspended Te and notified the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner. He will remain suspended until the New Westminster Police Department receives more information from the Vancouver police regarding the investigation and the charges are dealt with in court.
In the release, the New West police stated the department takes issues of domestic violence “extremely seriously” and “while this individual is entitled to due process and a presumption of innocence, we are extremely disappointed that an officer we had only recently hired was arrested and is now facing criminal charges in such an incident.”
According to the release, Te’s status within the Police Act process and as a probationary constable is under review by the department.
“At this time the New Westminster Police Department will not be in a position to provide further information as this matter is before the courts,” the press release added.
Te, who is not in custody, was in court last Thursday to schedule his arraignment. He will be back in court on Oct. 2.
