Fired West Vancouver police chief loses bid to keep job

West Vancouver's police chief has lost his bid to keep his job while his wrongful dismissal suit is pending.

The West Vancouver police board fired Scott Armstrong in December.

His termination came on the heels of the news that one of his officers, who had been convicted of drunk driving following an off-duty accident in Burnaby, was still in line for a promotion.

Armstrong sought an injunction to remain police chief until his legal case could be heard, but a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled on Tuesday he would not get his wish.

In firing Armstrong, the police boardsaid hisperformance as the Chief Constable did not meet expectations.

Armstrong has admitted to participating in after-hours drinking parties at police headquarters, after a constable whose blood-alcohol level was triple the legal limit crashed her car into another vehicle.

West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones has said Armstrong's termination was not related to the drinking scandal, but refused to disclose the cause, saying only that he had not passed his one-year probation.

Armstrong took the case to court to challenge the board's decision, claiming wrongful dismissal and saying that he was fired without cause and that the action was in breach of contract.

Armstrong was relieved after only 10 months on the job, but the board allowed him to keep his position until Jan. 31.

The West Vancouver police board told the Vancouver Province the board was close to hiring a new chief but was waiting to see if Armstrong would file an appeal.