A Victoria lawyer and former Conservative candidate has been appointed to the Military Police Complaints Commission, the civilian body that investigates allegations of wrongdoing against military police.
Troy DeSouza will serve on the quasi-judicial panel for the next four years, Minister of National Defence Jason Kenney said in an announcement.
DeSouza is a partner at Dominion GovLaw and specializes in legal advice to municipalities.
In addition to his 17 years as a lawyer, DeSouza served with the Canadian Forces reserves for seven years. He worked as an assisting officer, acting as a representative to military personnel who have been charged with summary, or less serious, offences. It was this experience, he said, that prompted him to become a lawyer.
“This position [with the Military Police Complaints Commission], which is essentially a review of how the military police conduct themselves, seemed like a really good fit, with my background in law and the military,” DeSouza said.
The appointment, which includes a paid stipend, means DeSouza is not able to run for political office for the next four years.
DeSouza ran for the Conservatives in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections, narrowly losing both times.
The complaints commission reports to the minister of national defence and is independent from the Canadian Armed Forces.
