The recently fired chief of the West Vancouver Police Department has gone to court in an effort to keep his job.

Scott Armstrong, who is in his first year as chief constable, was notified last month that his contract is not being renewed past Jan. 31.

West Vancouver Police Chief Scott Armstrong is seeking a court injunction to stop his termination until his wrongful dismissal suit is heard.
(CBC file)

His termination came on the heels of the news that one of his officers, who had been convicted of drunk driving following an off-duty accident in Burnaby, was still in line for a promotion.

At a subsequent news conference, Armstrong admitted that the constable had been drinking with other officers after work at the West Van police station.

He also said there had been other drinking parties at the offices that he had sanctioned, and that he had attended some of them himself.

West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones has said the termination was not related  to the drinking scandal, but refused to disclose the cause, saying only that Armstrong had not passed his one-year probation.

Armstrong's lawyer told the court on Thursday that a police chief cannot be fired by a police board.

Murray Tevlin argued that a police chief holds a public office, and cannot be subject to an early termination clause 

He is seeking an interim injunction to halt the termination pending the outcome of a wrongful dismissal suit.