Public Hearing Called into B.C. Officers’ Racist, Sexist WhatsApp Group: Watchdog Says Trust at Stake

British Columbia’s police complaint commissioner has ordered a public hearing into serious misconduct allegations involving six Nelson police officers—three current and three former—who are accused of sharing racist, sexist, and discriminatory messages in a private WhatsApp group.

Commissioner Prabhu Rajan said the case “goes to the heart of public trust in policing” and must be examined publicly. The hearing will also consider a constitutional challenge filed by five of the officers that has stalled court proceedings for nearly a year.

“Important issues are at stake in this case,” said Rajan’s office in a formal notice. “The hearing will help clarify the line between private expression and professional accountability.”

Allegations Date Back to 2019

According to the notice, the alleged misconduct occurred starting in March 2019, when the officers participated in a group chat containing racist, sexist, and other inappropriate content.

In February 2023, a police discipline authority found the officers appeared to have committed discreditable conduct. But further action has been delayed by the officers’ legal filings, which argue that their messages were made in a private setting and should be constitutionally protected.

The officers named include Adam Sutherland, Nathaniel Holt, and Sarah Hannah, along with former officers Jason Anstey and Robert Armstrong. Affidavits filed by the officers state they “considered that the WhatsApp group was private and would remain private.”

Hearing Will Proceed with or Without Court Ruling

The public hearing will be overseen by a retired judge, empowered under B.C.’s Police Act to rule on all legal and constitutional matters. With the court challenge remaining inactive since August 2024, Rajan’s office says the hearing will begin as soon as practicable.

The case is part of a broader national reckoning around the use of “private” messaging platforms by public servants, particularly when those conversations may betray the values of their roles or damage public confidence.

“Whether it’s private or not, the content matters—especially when it concerns those sworn to serve the public,” said Rajan.