Vancouver Cop in Sex Exploitation Unit Charged with Sex Exploitation

VPD police detective James Fisher charged with sexual exploitation and sex assault

29-year police veteran facing 6 counts involving a juvenile and an adult

By Karin Larsen, Chad Pawson, CBC News 

Det. Const. James Fisher, pictured here in 2014, is a 29-year member of the Vancouver Police Department. He was charged Thursday with sexual exploitation and sexual assault. (CBC)

A veteran Vancouver police detective, who in 2015 received a special citation for his work on a sexual exploitation investigation, has been charged with sexual exploitation.

Det. Const. James Fisher was arrested Thursday and faces three counts of sexual exploitation, one count of sexual assault, one count of breach of trust and one count of attempt to obstruct justice, according to court documents obtained by CBC News.

Vancouver Police Chief Const. Adam Palmer said one of the victims is a juvenile and another an adult. 

"He's been suspended from duty,"  said Palmer, noting that information from another VPD officer led to the investigation of Fisher. 

Fisher is a 29-year member of the VPD and in 2015 received a Chief Constable Unit Citation for "extraordinary dedication" for his part in the Counter Exploitation Unit's investigation into a child trafficking case.

"The details I can share are limited, as the matter is before the courts," said Palmer at a hastily called news conference Thursday.

He said a fellow officer came forward with concerns about Fisher in March of 2016 and an investigation was immediately called at that time.

Palmer also said that B.C.'s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner was also involved in the case from the beginning.

"It is rare for a VPD officer to be charged with offences such as these," said Palmer. "There is no information that any other officer was involved."

The charges against Fisher relate to allegations from August 2015 to November of this year.

'Very troubling news'

Palmer denied that any Creep Catcher group — those that look to use false online social media accounts to out sexual predators — were involved in Fisher's case.

But Vancouver's top cop did say that because Fisher was involved in numerous investigations, the force will be reviewing those.

Fisher appeared in court Thursday morning, but the details of his bail hearing are subject to a publication ban.

Palmer called the charges against Fisher "very troubling news" and said they are "not reflective of the other members of the police department."