Chief faces questions about police station parties

The mayor of West Vancouver says the city police board will investigate why after-work drinking partiesat the police station were sanctioned by the city's police chief.

The revelation came from Chief Scott Armstrong on Thursday at a news conference called to deal with the outcry over the drunk-driving conviction of Const. Lisa Alford.

Armstrong said Alford had been drinking with her colleagues at the police department last November, before getting behind the wheel of her car and crashing into anothervehicle in Burnaby.

A breathalyzer test showed she had ablood-alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit.Alfordpleaded guilty and lost her driver's licence for a year.

Armstrong said he put an end to the police station parties after the incident,but admitted he had attended some of them.

Zero tolerance in West Vancouver

Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, who is also the head of the police board, said the municipality has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol, either coming to work, or at work.

She said the police chief will now have to explain why he allowed the drinking parties.

"I've asked him to send his comments to every board member. It will be up to them if there will be any further actions."

B.C.'s solicitor general also wants answers. John Les said drinking at a police station under any circumstances is unacceptable, and he wants to know why the police chief let it happen.

A department spokesmanhas said that Alford is still in line for a promotion because she's a good officer.