No evidence to suggest slain City of Vancouver boss killed by disgruntled employee (2024)

Vancouver police revealed Thursday there was no evidence to suggest City of Vancouver sanitation boss Hanif Jessa was slain by a colleague in Burnaby.

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Rumours of a link between the tough sanitation boss and a disgruntled employee began when Burnaby RCMP contacted Vancouver police shortly after Jessa was shot outside his home at noon on Wednesday.

Vancouver police spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham said the RCMP had information that led them to believe other city workers were at risk.

Vancouver cops contacted the “other potential targets” and set up a guard at city hall and the Manitoba Works Yard. However, by the end of the night, it was determined there was no further risk.

“There’s no evidence to suggest it was work-related,” Fincham said.

On Thursday, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokeswoman Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said police hadn’t identified a suspect.

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Jessa, 53, was shot in his car outside his family home in the 7900-block Wickham Place and wasn’t previously known to police. A neighbour reported hearing two men yelling at each other before a series of loud popping noises was heard.

A man who identified himself online as a U.K.-based relative of Jessa’s expressed his remorse over the killing on Thursday morning.

“Very saddened and grief stricken to be informed about tragic death of #HanifJessa, my cousin’s husband in Burnaby yesterday,” tweeted Abby Jan Dharamsey.

Dharamsey later tweeted that Jessa was a father of two and a “conscientious dedicated easygoing fellow who would light up a place with his jokes.”

The Province interviewed former and current sanitation department workers Thursday. One worker said that after the shooting police protection was given to a number of department managers, including two former Vancouver sanitation managers who now work for the City of Port Moody.

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A former sanitation worker said Jessa was a street-cleaning superintendent who got along fine with some workers, but was perceived to be very tough on others. Jessa allegedly faced a high number of employee complaints.

“I heard he was a good family man and good guy away from work,” one former co-worker said. “I actually got along with Hanif quite well, but there was a pattern there.”

Another source said Jessa was seen as a “military-style” leader.

“He was a good foreman, but if you weren’t putting in 100 per cent he would follow you,” the source said.

Sources also said that on Wednesday, the day of the shooting, a “high-ranking” CUPE 1004 official had complained to sanitation management about Jessa’s treatment of workers.

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CUPE 1004 spokesman Clay Suddaby said the union wouldn’t confirm allegations or respond to any questions on the context of Wednesday’s shooting.

As The Province has reported since 2012, Vancouver’s sanitation department has been plagued by controversy, including the hiring of a former Hells Angel and persistent tension between management and employees in what's been called a “fear-based” and “toxic” work environment.

In a February 2013 Employee Engagement report obtained by The Province, a consultant pointed to widespread complaints about hiring and promotion procedures.

The third-party survey of about 200 sanitation staff said employees fear retribution for speaking out about concerns and stated it was a “toxic work environment.”

A statement issued by the City of Vancouver on Thursday said counselling and support is being offered to staff and the victim’s co-workers.

scooper@theprovince.com

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