New Westminster Const. Jeffrey Klassen has resigned from the force following his conviction for assaulting Fijian-Canadian newspaper delivery man.
NEW WESTMINSTER – A New Westminster police constable convicted of assault of Fijian-Canadian newspaper delivery man in January of 2009 has resigned.
Const. Jeff Klassen submitted his resignation Thursday, but the New Westminster police only announced the move Monday.
Klassen and two other off-duty police officers were arrested by Vancouver police after they assaulted Surrey’s Firoz Khan, who was doing his job of delivering newspapers at the time.
Klassen was found guilty of assault in provincial court on April 5, 2011, but did not have his pay suspended by the New Westminster Police Department until April 20.
Klassen was subsequently sentenced on June 10, 2011 to a conditional discharge and placed on probation for a year.
Under the revamped Police Act, New Westminster Police must complete an internal investigation. They referred inquiries about Klassen to the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner as a result of their pending report.
Under the previous act, investigations were terminated if an member’s employment as a police officer ended.
According to a New Westminster Police Department statement, not all matters involving Klassen have been resolved.
“What the NWPD can confirm is that the decision on resignation was made by Mr. Klassen and no financial incentive or package was offered or given to him by the NWPD in return for his resignation,” said the statement.
