Independent agency to review Victoria police chief investigation

An independent agency will be reviewing an internal police investigation into Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner's inappropriate exchange of messages with a woman on Twitter.

The Victoria Times Colonist said in a report the exchange was with the wife of one of his Victoria police officers. The report said the woman is also a police officer, but works in a neighbouring department.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, which provides civilian oversight of complaints about municipal police, announced on Monday it will conduct the independent review.

• Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner 'deeply humilated' after reprimand for inappropriate tweets

No breach of public trust

The Victoria Police Board hired a lawyer to conduct an investigation after receiving a complaint aboutElsnerin September.

Board co-chair andEsquimaltMayorBarbDesjardinssays the investigationfound that there was no inappropriate relationship involvingElsnerandthere was no breach of the public's trust in the department, but thatonline messages did cross a line.

While the incident will go onElsner'sservice record, the board voted Friday to keep him on as chief.

Elsnerhas admittedhe exchanged the inappropriate messagesand has since apologized, saying heis "deeply humiliated" after theboard placed a formal reprimand on his record, the first in his 33-year career.

The exchange started in late spring, he said,and he stopped it before "it became more ridiculous than it was."

Elsner was sworn in as chief two years ago and since assuming command of the force has had a very active presence on social media.

The Office of the Police Complaints Commissionerhas the power to order its own investigation if it finds there is reason to think there are issues about public trust in the department.