Vancouver police officer arrested, charged with theft, fraud and breach of trust

Kalwinder (Kal) Dosanjh has been charged with theft, fraud and breach of trust. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10111608A

Article content

A veteran Vancouver police officer who started a charity for at-risk kids has been charged with fraud, theft and breach of trust after an investigation by his own agency.

Article content

Kalwinder (Kal) Dosanjh was arrested in Surrey, where he lives, on Thursday morning.

Article content

Article content

Damienne Darby of the B.C. Prosecution Service confirmed that Dosanjh, 50, faces nine counts, including four counts of fraud over $5,000, four of theft over $5,000, and one of breach of trust by a public officer. He has a co-accused, Sarabjit Singh Gill, 51, on six of the fraud and theft counts.

Article content

Article content

Darby said the alleged offence dates vary among the nine counts, “but the earliest date alleged is Dec. 8, 2017, and the latest date is July 25, 2025, at or near Vancouver, Surrey, and/or other locations in British Columbia.”

Article content

Article content

Sources said police made several searches on Thursday, including one at the Surrey offices of the Kids Play Foundation, the charity of which Dosanjh is the public face.

Article content

Dosanjh stated Kids Play in 2015. It became a registered charity in 2019, according to federal government records. Dosanjh was listed as a director until 2025, the records indicate. The charity’s site says Dosanjh remains the CEO.

Article content

The Vancouver Police Department wouldn’t confirm the charges against Dosanjh, a constable, but has scheduled a news conference for Friday morning “to announce charges in a 2.5-year convert investigation.”

Article content

Chief Const. Steve Rai and Supt. Mike Ritchie, who led the investigation, will address the news media, spokesman Const. Darren Wong said in a news release.

Article content

No other details were released.

Article content

Sources told Postmedia that Dosanjh was arrested Thursday morning after leaving his house.

Article content

Article content

The Kids Play charity offers drug and gang education and other services such as counselling, sports programs and summer camp for youths. Its last major event was in March 2025, when it held a community forum on public safety called “drugs and gangs” at the Taj Park Convention Centre in Surrey.

Article content

Article content

The poster for the free event offered “$200 per student on the spot” and “$5,000 in bursaries given.”

Article content

There were photos of the 2025 “Golden Gala,” a fundraiser that was celebrating the charity’s 10th year.

Article content

Its website said it also has offices in Alberta, Ontario, India and Colombia.

Article content

Dosanjh has been with the Vancouver Police Department for 24 years.

Article content

His profile on the Kids Play website says he “served the majority of his operational time as a beat patrol officer in one of the most challenging and violent environments found in North America, the Downtown Eastside.”

Article content

The profile also said he worked in VPD’s investigative division as a detective.

Article content

“He has led multiple large scale investigations and projects, which have resulted in making a significant impact on reduction of organized crime activities in the Downtown Eastside. The types of calls he has been involved with have included drug trafficking, weapons calls, homicides, robberies and serious assaults,” the profile also said.