Vancouver police officer Kalwinder Dosanjh charged over theft of more than $3M

VANCOUVER – A 26-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department is facing charges of theft, fraud and breach of trust involving millions of dollars in a case the force’s chief is calling “deeply distressing.”

Kalwinder Dosanjh, who is well known for his charitable work involving a foundation called Kids Play, was arrested on Thursday in a controlled traffic stop in Surrey, B.C., after a covert investigation that lasted more than two years. 

The charges relate to housing developments, with 19 alleged victims reporting losses of more that $3 million.

Chief Const. Steve Rai and other high-ranking officers spoke about the case on Friday at Vancouver police headquarters.

“These allegations are deeply troubling, not only because of their seriousness, but because they have the potential to undermine the trust that our members work very hard, very hard to build and maintain with the public,” Rai said.

“It is deeply distressing when the actions of one individual, one individual cast a shadow over the tremendous work of so many dedicated professionals who serve our city with honour every day.”

Provincial Crown prosecutors approved four counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of theft over $5,000 and one count of breach of trust. Online court records show charges were sworn against Dosanjh along with his co-accused, Sarabjit Gill.

Police say the alleged criminal conduct happened between 2017 and 2025.

Few other details have been released by police, citing privacy and the matter  being before the courts.

Dosanjh’s lawyers did not immediately provide a response to the allegations.

Dosanjh is the founder of Surrey-base Kids Play, whose website said he had served in various roles including as an undercover officer and in the department’s financial crime and drug units.

Supt. Mike Ritchie said police searched the premises of Kids Play on Thursday.

Dosanjh’s wife, Sandy, had been a council candidate for the Conservative Party of Surrey in the city’s upcoming municipal election but the party said Friday she had dropped out.

“As Sandy is no longer a candidate for public office, we ask that her privacy be respected so that she is able to focus on her family,”  the party said.

Ritchie said there may be more victims in the case, and investigators have set up a dedicated phone line for anyone who may have been affected to come forward.

Ritchie said more charges were possible.

“We anticipate a number of other victims, so there is a possibility,” he said. “It is an active, ongoing investigation. The current charges are before the courts, but we do anticipate further victims coming forward.”

Police say the investigation into Dosanjh began in December 2023, when several victims reported the allegations of “criminal activity.”

It led to the establishment of a dedicated investigative team that undertook a covert investigation of more than two years.

Rai said Vancouver Police consulted the RCMP on which jurisdiction should carry out the investigation before forming the team to investigate its own officer.

“It was a two-plus-year investigation,” he said. “That takes a lot of resources and a lot of expertise and in B.C., let’s be frank, only a large department can lead that kind of investigation in this province — that’s the RCMP or ourselves. 

“And we had discussions with the RCMP, and with what’s going on in the region with transition, bodies, resources, it was determined with collective judgment that we would maintain the file for the expertise required and the resources.”

Dosanjh has been suspended, removing his powers as a police officer, and his service weapon had been seized, Ritchie told the news conference.

Rai recommended to the Vancouver Police Board that Dosanjh’s suspension be without pay for the duration of any proceedings.

“If the Police Board adopts my recommendation, this suspension will remain in place while the criminal proceedings move through the courts and until any disciplinary proceedings under the Police Act are concluded,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2026.