Police chief fights termination

The recently fired chief of the West Vancouver Police Department has gone to court in an effort to keep his job.

Scott Armstrong, who is in his first year as chief constable, was notified last month that his contract is not being renewed past Jan. 31.

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.

At a subsequent news conference, Armstrong admitted that the constable had been drinking with other officers after work at the WestVanpolice station.

He also said there had been other drinking parties at the offices that he had sanctioned, and that he had attended some of them himself.

West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Joneshas said the termination was not related to the drinking scandal, but refused to disclose the cause, saying only thatArmstrong had not passed his one-year probation.

Armstrong's lawyer told the courton Thursday that a police chief cannot be fired by a police board.

MurrayTevlin argued thata police chief holds a public office, and cannot be subject to an early termination clause

He is seeking an interim injunction to halt the termination pending the outcome of a wrongful dismissal suit.