Const. Jeff Klassen, the New Westminster police officer who was convicted in the drunken beating of a Surrey newspaper delivery man in downtown Vancouver three years ago, has resigned.
Klassen and two other off-duty officers from other police departments were arrested by Vancouver police in the early hours of Jan. 21, 2009 following an altercation with Surrey's Firoz Khan outside of the Hyatt Hotel. Klassen was immediately suspended by then-Chief Const. Lorne Zapotichny.
Klassen was charged and found guilty of assault in April 2011. He was handed a 21-day conditional sentence.
According to a New Westminster Police Department statement, not all matters involving Klassen have been resolved. Under the Police Act, the NWPD has to finish its investigation and report its findings and recommendations to the police complaint commissioner.
"What the NWPD can confirm is that the decision on resignation was made by Mr. Klassen and no financial incentive or package was offered or given to him by the NWPD in return for his resignation," said the statement.