A nine-month ordeal for a Port Moody police officer detained in Cuba is over and Const. Jordan Long has returned home after being found not guilty of allegations of being an accessory to a sexual assault.
But an investigation into his conduct will be carried out along with that of Const. Mark Simms who was also detained but found not guilty in the case, a spokesperson from the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has confirmed.
“When officers are investigated criminally they can also be subject to a conduct review as well,” explained Andrea Spindler, director of operations and strategic initiatives.
Both the Port Moody Police Department and the Vancouver Police Department requested an order to investigate the allegation of discreditable conduct in March. The OPCC has six months to conclude the investigation.
However, there could be challenges in obtaining documents from Cuba, but Spindler said the two police officers will be interviewed by professional standards investigators.
PMPD is not commenting on Long’s current status, as it is a human resources matter, but in a statement to the media on the weekend noted that “this has been an extremely difficult situation for all involved.”
PMPD stated that it learned Jan. 4 that the prosecution’s appeal was rejected and the acquittal was upheld, allowing Long to return home.
The return of Long and Simms brought jubilation to family members and supporters who noted on a Facebook post that the ordeal has taken a “terrible toll” but that they felt “profound gratitude” for all the support.
