A longtime New Westminster police officer has been suspended following his arrest for an alleged sexual assault 12 years ago.

Const. Sukhwinder “Vinnie” Dosanjh was arrested by Victoria police on Tuesday following an investigation into a historical sexual assault that is alleged to have taken place in 2005, according to acting Victoria Police spokesperson Bowen Osoko.

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The incident is alleged to have happened while Dosanjh was off-duty.

How and when the investigation got underway is unknown at this time.

“As the matter is currently before the courts, we will not be offering any further comment,” Osoko said.

Dosanjh has now been suspended from active duty with the New Westminster Police Department, and the police board will consider the conditions of his suspension, including whether or not the suspension will be without pay, according to a statement released by the local police department.

The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner will conduct its own investigation under the Police Act.

“This is always concerning when a police officer is accused of a criminal offence, especially one as serious as this. The New Westminster Police (Department) is committed to maintaining public trust and accountability and within the bounds of what due process allows, we will be as transparent on this process as we can. In spite of this allegation against one of our members, the women and men of this department remain committed to providing professional service to the members of this community,” Dept. Chief Const. Dave Jansen said in the statement.

Dosanjh was previously suspended with pay for nearly four years in 2008 after he was charged with assault and being unlawfully in a dwelling. After several court appearances, Crown counsel dropped the criminal charges and the judge issued Dosanjh a common law peace bond, which allows a judge to impose court-ordered conditions to someone who has not been found guilty of a crime. The peace bond expired in 2011.

Dosanjh was also subject to a Police Act investigation, which resulted in number of disciplinary actions.

Dosanjh is scheduled to appear in Victoria provincial court on Aug. 17 at 2 p.m.