Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner suspended

Victoria's police chief Frank Elsner has been suspended, effective immediately, following allegations of misconduct, including attempting to influence witnesses and delete information from Victoria Police computers.

The new accusations surfaced in connection with theongoing investigation into claims Elsner sent inappropriate social media messages to the wife of a subordinate officer.

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Retired judge Ian Pitfield, ordered the suspension Friday shortly after his appointment asadjudicator by the Office of the Police Complaints Commission.

The co-chairs of the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board were told of the suspensionthis afternoon.

The Victoria Police Board says it will meetnext week to determine whetherthe suspension will be with or without pay.

ChiefElsnerhas been on administrative leave since December.

A statement from police complaints commissioner Stan Lowe earlier today said new information suggestsElsner "attempted to inappropriately influence potentialwitnesses" and"may havedeleted or attempted to delete information relevant to the internal investigation."

Deceit and discreditable conduct

According to the statementElsner is now facing three separatedisciplinarybreaches of public trust; anallegationof deceit and two allegations of discreditable conduct.

Elsner'slawyer JanetWinteringhamsays he cannotcomment on the allegations.

"Evenin the face of a detailed media release that has been delivered from the police complaints commissioner's office, neither the chief nor council should be commenting on an outstanding police act investigation." Winteringham told CBC News.

The RCMPhas been designated to investigate the new allegations which represent another twist in the ongoing drama around Elsnerwhich beganlast August when the co-chairs of the Victoria andEsquimaltPolice Board received a tip thatElsnerhad exchanged inappropriate Twitter messages with a female officer on another force.

The woman's husband is an officer serving underElsner.

Elsner has been on paid leave since December whenthe initial investigation was launched.

Investigations under the Police Act must be completedwithin six months.

With files from Megan Thomas