An adjudicator with British Columbia's provincial privacy watchdog has ruled a Saanich Police officer committed a privacy breach by sharing details of a woman's file with friends and family, and urged the department to tighten policies and training.
Adjudicator finds sharing of personal information
The July 22 decision by adjudicator Rene Kimmett with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner says the officer disclosed the personal information of a woman whose file he was assigned to. The matter originated with a dispute that began in June 2022 and resulted in the woman making a criminal complaint. The dispute was resolved in October 2023, the decision states; it does not provide details on the nature of the dispute or how it was resolved.
The woman first complained to the Saanich Police Department, then to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, and ultimately to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Neither the officer nor the woman are named in the adjudicator's decision.
What the decision documents
Kimmett's ruling cites a June 2023 text exchange from the officer's personal cellphone in which the officer told the woman he shared updates about the case with friends and family, referring to “all the drama.” The adjudicator concluded this amounted to an improper use of personal information.
“The situation is no I would not want my ex to ever find [out] about us [having sex]. ‘That’s rule 1 for me … Anything between u and me stays here,’”
The written decision also records the officer saying in May 2023 that he was interested in pursuing a casual sexual relationship with the woman. The adjudicator did not rule on any ethical questions about that conduct; the decision focuses solely on the privacy breach.
- Complaint timeline: complaint to Saanich Police; Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner; Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
- Adjudicator: Rene Kimmett issued the July 22 decision.
- Finding: officer improperly disclosed a complainant's personal information to friends and family.
- Recommendation: Saanich Police Department should update privacy policies and training.
Local implications and departmental response
The adjudicator's decision does not name the officer or the complainant, but its findings raise questions about how officers handle sensitive information from files they are assigned. The ruling specifically recommended the Saanich Police Department review and update its privacy policies and enhance training to prevent similar incidents.
The Saanich Police Department argued during the review that there was no improper use of the woman's personal information, but the adjudicator disagreed based on the text evidence and the complaint pathway outlined in the decision.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| June 2022 | Dispute that led to criminal complaint begins (per decision) |
| May 2023 | Officer reportedly expresses interest in a casual sexual relationship (recorded in decision) |
| June 2023 | Text exchange indicates officer shared case updates with friends and family |
| October 2023 | Dispute resolved (no further details in decision) |
| July 22, 2026 | Adjudicator issues decision finding a privacy breach |
The decision focuses narrowly on the privacy issue; it does not adjudicate any matters concerning the officer's potential personal relationship with the complainant, nor does it set out disciplinary action against the officer. The adjudicator's role in this matter was to determine whether personal information had been improperly used under provincial privacy regulations.
Saanich residents often look to the police to handle personal safety and privacy matters with discretion. The adjudicator's recommendation to strengthen departmental privacy policies and training is intended to reduce the risk that sensitive information from investigations is disclosed outside formal channels.
As this matter proceeded through internal and provincial oversight mechanisms, it underscores the multiple avenues available for complaints about police handling of personal information in British Columbia, from local department complaint processes to provincial bodies overseeing police conduct and privacy.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's decision adds to broader scrutiny of how law-enforcement agencies manage confidential information — an issue of particular concern in close-knit communities across the province, including Saanich.
