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Saanich sergeant resigns amid investigation into workout video

A Saanich police officer under investigation for using images of tactical team members and training videos to promote a workout video has resigned from the department. Sgt.
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Saanich police

A Saanich police officer under investigation for using images of tactical team members and training videos to promote a workout video has resigned from the department.

Sgt. Todd Lamb, a former leader of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, is the subject of a Police Act investigation for allegedly using unauthorized material — including a fellow tactical team member’s name and photo as a testimonial — for his fitness program, Spec Force Alpha.

On Tuesday, Lamb tendered his resignation, which Saanich police spokesman Sgt. Steve Eassie said will take effect “in the near future.”

“Only Todd would be able to provide information about the reasons for his decision,” Eassie said. “I can advise that this was not a result of a discipline by the department.”

Lamb could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Lamb’s resignation does not shield him from discipline under the Police Act. Eassie said an officer’s retirement does not preclude a Police Act investigation.

In 2009, changes to the Police Act gave the police complaints commissioner the power to continue disciplinary proceedings even if an officer resigns. Any discipline is added to their service record in case they apply for a job with another department.

In the YouTube video, Lamb touts his experience as “the leader of an elite SWAT team and one of the top tactical fitness experts in the world.”

At one point, the video shows the image of a Victoria police officer who is part of the region’s Emergency Response Team. His name is shown alongside a text-on-screen testimonial, which the officer did not know was going to be used in the promotional material.

Lamb shows photos of himself holding an assault rifle, surrounded by other tactical team members, their faces blacked out. Lamb is also seen target shooting at a gun range.

The video was decried by women’s advocates as sexist and completely inappropriate coming from a police officer who is sworn to protect the public.

Lamb said in the video it makes him “furious to see the sneaky feminization of the once proud male physique” and that he’s witnessing the “sissy-fication” of the male population.

He promises men who follow his “elite muscle program” will have a body “that’s as useful for taking down bad guys as it is for attracting the ladies.”

Saanich Police Chief Bob Downie has not commented on Lamb’s video but Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner said in an email to his department: “As a chief whose department is part of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, I can clarify that the attitudes and tone portrayed within the internal material are not reflective of the values and attitudes of GVERT and the VicPD.”

Before joining the Emergency Response Team, Lamb was a canine officer for Saanich police from 2001 to 2008.

He was also a former president of the Saanich Police Association.

kderosa@timescolonist.com

 

Link to video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouLsNfmJBgs