“Our position on the use of Tasers has been clear and widely reported for years. Tasers reduce injuries, save lives and work effectively. If we didn’t believe that, we wouldn’t use them.
Our position aligns with the one taken by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. We agree with the CACP that Tasers, like any use of force, even the threat of using force, can result in injuries or worse. Extensive training, clear tactical guidelines, compliance and equipment testing checks can all greatly reduce that risk.
Recently we have seen the RCMP raise their use of Taserguidelines to more closely comply with those that the VPD and other municipal departments have been using for some time. We consider this a positive move in the direction of greater understanding and support for these valuable tools that enhance our efforts to preserve public safety.”
Sentencing news:
Three males charged in connection with the 2006 kidnapping of university student Graham McMynn have been sentenced:
Anh The Nguyen – 13 years for kidnapping plus 8 year concurrent term for unlawful confinement
Jose Hernandez – 12 years for kidnapping plus 8 year concurrent term for unlawful confinement
Sam Vu – 8 years for unlawful confinement
Two others were aquitted during the trial, and one juvenile remains scheduled for trial in March 2009
News update:
The Vancouver police have now charged a 19 year old man in connection with the February 17th home invasion and shooting that took place at a residence in the 6900 block of Fraser St. Travis Arthur Chartrand faces the following charges: robbery, break and enter, aggravated assault, using a firearm during the commission of an offence, and possession of a dangerous weapon.
News from Greece – don’t try this at home!
On Sunday, February 22nd, two inmates serving time at an Athens jail for robbery and murder escaped after climbing a rope ladder thrown to them from a helicopter hovering over the jail court yard. Prison guards engaged in a gun battle with the helicopter, but the two inmates were able to make good their escape.
To add insult to injury, this was the SECOND time these two inmates had escaped by chopper – in 2006, they were able to get away after a hijacked helicopter actually landed in the jail courtyard. At that time, it was reported jail guards failed to react as they thought the chopper was there for a prison inspector’s visit.
This most recent escape took place just days before the two inmates were to appear before the courts for the first attempt. Oh dear.
Full video coverage in a report from CNN:
That’s it for this week. Have a good weekend, and stay safe.
We’ve all had them call us – I’m not talking about phone calls from friends and family, but calls from telemarketers and scam artists. Sometimes it’s the loud blast from a cruise ship tearing into your ear, and other times it’s just ominous silence. Either way, my usual repertoire is to either hang up without saying anything, or requesting that I be placed on their ‘no call list’. I’m not sure if this is right tact, but it seems to be working – we’re getting fewer calls.
Now if I could only figure out how to block text messages on my cell phone….
A few days ago, a new scam was brought to my attention. This scam has been used with some success, and it’s targeting seniors. It all starts when a grandparent gets a call from someone they believe to be their grandchild. The ‘grandchild’ is usually calling from a noisy location, which makes it difficult to communicate and makes it easier for them to convince the senior they really are their loved one. The ‘grandchild’ then says he has been arrested for a minor offence and is being held in a Canadian jail, with bail posted at several thousand dollars. The grandparents, being the loving and caring people that they are, immediately wire their ‘grandchild’ the money.
You can probably see where this is going – the ‘grandchild’ is a fake and the money is never seen again.
There have been several cases in the States where grandparents have been duped out of tens of thousands of dollars. It’s had a far reaching effect, as even our jail here in Vancouver has fielded calls from worried relatives who eventually find out their ‘grandchild’ has never graced the cells of our jail.
These scam artists will stop at nothing to get their paws on your money, so treat EVERY request for funds with a little bit of scepticism.
Thanks to Ray for sending me a link to a great blog out of Wisconsin. Onconto County Commission on Aging’s Blog is “intended to keep seniors up-to-date on current programs, scams, press releases and recalls.” While most of the information is more suited to local residents of the Onconto County, there are still some very valuable tips for our Canadians and it’s worth a look.
If anyone has a good link to such a Canadian site, please let me know.
BC has declared the last Wednesday in February as Anti-Bullying Day. Premier Gordon Campbell said parents, teachers, students and community members are taking a stand against bullying, and that no one should ever ne made to feel intimidated or discriminated against.
PinkShirtDay.ca
This day has also been called Pink Shirt Day, and there is a growing call for everyone to wear something pink in the stand against against bullying. The t-shirt seen above can be purchased through PinkShirtDay.ca, with the proceeds being donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver.
What started with two Nova Scotia high school students showing support for a bullied school mate has turned into a national cause. From CBC news:
“Two Nova Scotia students are being praised across North America for the way they turned the tide against the bullies who picked on a fellow student for wearing pink. The victim — a Grade 9 boy at Central Kings Rural High School in the small community of Cambridge — wore a pink polo shirt on his first day of school. Bullies harassed the boy, called him a homosexual for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up, students said.
Two Grade 12 students — David Shepherd and Travis Price — heard the news and decided to take action.
“I just figured enough was enough,” said Shepherd.
They went to a nearby discount store and bought 50 pink shirts, including tank tops, to wear to school the next day. Then the two went online to e-mail classmates to get them on board with their anti-bullying cause that they dubbed a “sea of pink.” But a tsunami of support poured in the next day. Not only were dozens of students outfitted with the discount tees, but hundreds of students showed up wearing their own pink clothes, some head-to-toe.
When the bullied student, who has never been identified, walked into school to see his fellow students decked out in pink, some of his classmates said it was a powerful moment. He may have even blushed a little.
“Definitely it looked like there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders. He went from looking right depressed to being as happy as can be,” said Shepherd.
And there’s been nary a peep from the bullies since, which Shepherd says just goes to show what a little activism will do.”
Bravo to David Shepherd and Travis Price.
Bullying is a huge concern, and as police officers we see the impact bullying has on our community. Later today, when I put my uniform on, I’ll be wearing a pink bracelet to support this very worthy cause.
I was perusing US police blogs in the last few days, and came upon a post about whether or not officers should carry a firearm during their off-duty hours.
The resounding response from American officers was YES they did pack a gun when not actively working, with the added comments of feeling negligent if they didn’t ‘carry’ when off duty. With the very different gun laws in the States, this answer didn’t surprise me. A couple of my American friends hold permits to carry concealed weapons – I guess it’s just a way of life south of the border.
When asked, I chipped in with my two cents about how life is in Canada, and how a Canadian officer could face criminal charges/internal discipline for carrying a gun when not authorized to do so. My friends in the States were shocked, and asked what I would do if faced with a lethal situation when off duty. I responded that I would likely be diving for cover and calling 911 from my cell phone.
Should Canadian officers be carrying their duty weapons when off duty? There are some who would say ‘yes’ and there are those who would say ‘absolutely not’ – the answer, I think, is somewhere in the middle. Both sides have good reasons, and I’m sure the debate on such a topic would be long and colourful. Especially here on the West Coast.
As for me? I’ll be keeping my cell phone on full charge.
The Supreme Court of BC (Vancouver) located at 800 Smithe St. hears the more serious cases where the accused has elected for trial by judge and jury. A quote from the Government of British Columbia’s Court Services page reads as follows:
“The right to a trial by a jury of one’s peers is a cornerstone of our democratic society and one of its oldest institutions. It exists to protect the individual’s rights and to involve the community in the administration of justice.”
If you are from the Lower Mainland, or from BC for that matter, you will probably remember the case from a few years ago where a young woman was charged with the 2004 murder of 84 year old Ragnar (Ray) Michaelson. The young woman was found guilty after her trial in 2006, details of which can be read in coverage from The Vancouver Sun.
In the newspaper article, one line jumps out - ”Michaelson was found clutching a phone, suggesting he was trying to call for help after he was attacked in his home.”
It’s a very accurate report. I know it’s accurate because that’s exactly how we found him.
After responding to a call of a disturbance that quickly escalated into a stabbing from inside a residence, other officers had taken the suspect into custody a short distance away from the house. At the time, we did not know if there were other suspects outstanding, but witnesses said someone had been stabbed inside the house and needed help. The police radio was chaotic with officers running everywhere and multiple witnesses calling in to 911. Adrenalin was running high, the updates from dispatch were rapid-fire broadcasts, and my partner, sergeant and I were the first ones at the residence.
‘To preserve life’ is an oath we have sworn to, so the three of us focused on the task at hand and set out to fulfill that oath.
Inside the home, we located Mr. Michaelson in one of the bedrooms. While my partner and Sgt continued clearing the house, I stayed with Mr. Michaelson, gun drawn and at my side. With my other hand, I stroked Mr. Michaelson’s soft white hair, telling him everything was going to be okay because we were there now, all the while knowing nothing was going to be okay for him from then on. My hand moved from his hair to his neck to check for his pulse. Then taking his hand in mine and speaking softly, hoping he could hear me, I told him to hang on, that help was on the way.
As the voices of my partner and sergeant grew faint from deep within the house, I talked to Mr. Michaelson, telling him over and over that everything was going to be fine. Looking back, I think my repeated mantra was just as much for myself as it was for Mr. Michaelson. For when my fingers sought out the side of his neck again, all they found was stillness. As I knelt there beside him holding his hand, Mr. Michaelson had left us.
Two years later, when I recounted the experience in front of a packed courtroom and a jury of twelve, I searched the galley for Mr. Michaelson’s loved ones. Having never been able to tell them someone had been with their father and grandfather at the end of his life had been a weight on my soul, so I searched for their faces, wanting to make sure they knew we cared about what had happened.
Equally as tough was looking at the accused as she sat with bowed head. Her actions had been monsterous, but she didn’t look like a monster; she looked like a tired and scared twenty-something woman who had made a series of poor decisions. My heart broke for her a little that day too.
An 18 year old kidnapping victim was rescued by the Vancouver Police Department on Thursday, Feb. 19th, after he was allegedly taken from his downtown home on Sunday, Feb. 15th. The update from the Vancouver Police Department’s Media Releases page reads as follows:
“The first major kidnapping case in Vancouver in almost three years came to a successful conclusion February 19th when an 18 year old young man was rescued by police and four of his suspected abductors were arrested.
The Chinese International student was allegedly taken from his home in the West End on February 15th. His parents, who live in China, were called with a ransom demand and contacted police through a third party in Canada.
Inspector Les Yeo was the Team Commander for the case, also having led the investigation into the well-publicized kidnapping and rescue of Graham McMynn in 2004. Inspector Yeo, who calls himself just the coach of the team, commended all the people involved in the case. “This was a good example of how we can work with other agencies, as well.”
The investigation, with Lead Investigators A.J. Benefield and Simon Cracknell, involved over 100 officers and civilians and included assistance from the RCMP and Chinese authorities. Staff worked long hours, some of them working 36 hours straight.
Vancouver Police Sergeant Joe Chu, who is fluent in Mandarin, became the liaison with the parents, who were obviously devastated. “Imagine you are these parents, living thousands of miles away from their child, and you don’t speak the language. Who are you going to call?”
He praised the parents’ ultimate decision to call the police. After not sleeping for days, it was Sergeant Chu who made the call to give the young man’s parents the good news. “It was an incredible moment to say to the parents, ‘We have your son.’”
Deputy Chief Doug LePard also praised everyone involved in the case. “This was a huge team effort. We dedicated an incredible amount of resources to this, including surveillance teams, tactical units, civilian analysts, wiretap monitors, as well as investigators.”
Charges against the four people arrested have been recommended to Crown.”
Other Vancouver News:
Serial Robber now in custody – After a series of robberies dating from December 10th, 2008 to February 17th, 2009, the VPD asked for assistance from the public and the media. After local news outlets broadcast the suspects photo and physical description, the man alleged to have committed the robberies turned himself in to the police station at 9pm on Thursday, Feb. 19th. This case was a great example of the media and the police working together.
Homicide appears to have started as a home invasion – Resident’s of the 6900 Fraser St were shaken after a shooting took place at a house on February 17th at 2pm. A struggle ensued between the suspects and the occupants of the home, leaving one man dead and another injured. Another suspect was later arrested by the Surrey RCMP. It is not known what ties, if any, the people involved in this incident had. CTV has some photos and aerial video of the scene.
News from south of the border:
L.A. Sheriff’s Department- a report released on Thurs., Feb 19th and prepared by L.A. County’s Office of Independent Review alleges the L.A. Sheriff’s department reduced it’s hiring standards in 2006, which allowed them to hire recruits who would have been rejected previous to that. Part of the breaking news story can be read at The Times-Standard, and this will probably be all over the US news in the coming days. I’ve got a very strong personal opinion on hiring standards – the standards need to be high as not everyone is suited for this job. Yes, policing is a wide and varied career, and we need officers more now than ever. But it’s really a matter of quality over quantity; I’d rather be working short handed than having to worry if an officer coming to help me is really capable of doing his/her job. I’ve seen what happens when an officer is hired who shouldn’t be – officers are put at risk and bad guys get away.
US Border Patrol Helicopter Crash – the helicopter went down at approx 8pm on Thursday evening. All three crew members survived and were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The Los Angeles Times has more of the story.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me” News:
Thief caught in a ‘wedgie’ – a Salt Lake City, Utah, woman chased after a man who broke into a co-worker’s car. When he kept trying to get away, the woman yanked on the man’s undershorts, gave him a wedgie, and then placed him in a head lock until police arrived. I love it! Check out the story on The Herald.
It’s been a crazy week. Homicides, shootings, home invasions…you would think that’s all that happens in this city. I’d like you to know that while these incidents grab the headlines they are not what really define a city, a community and a police department. It’s calls like these that do:
An elderly man suffering from dementia wandered away from his loved ones. His family called 911, and with the assistance of the police the man was found only a few blocks away, a little disoriented but otherwise okay.
An alert citizen called in what appeared to be a break and enter in progress – multiple units responded, a police dog located the suspect just as he was about to commit another break-in, and property from a yet-to-be-reported break-in was recovered.
A patrol unit showed compassion while dealing with a young man newly diagnosed with schizophrenia, and assisted his family in finding the resources they needed to manage their loved one’s illness.
There are many good stories within the Vancouver Police Department, and most of them never get acknowledged when overshadowed by the latest ‘hot story’. Don’t get me wrong – the gun violence and gang warfare are a huge concern for police, and rightly so. But as the gangsters and those associated to them continue to shoot at one another, the rest of the world continues to tick along. Let’s not forget about everyone else.
So, on that note, here’s a video to lighten things up. This ad originally aired as a Superbowl commercial, and falls into the parameters of ‘auto crime prevention’ and nipping a gang-related problem in the bud:
**Just to clarify – I am NOT endorsing the company named in the video and neither is the VPD….it just happens to be a funny video that serves the purpose of bringing a little humour into this otherwise busy week. Enjoy!
I get the feeling this will not be the last post about this subject.
Yesterday, a woman was shot to death while driving her vehicle in Surrey. At first glance, she appears to be another victim in the ongoing gun war, but what is so shocking about this crime is the fact the woman’s four year old son was in the back seat of her car at the time of the shooting, and he somehow escaped physical injury. It’s not know what affiliation, if any, the woman had to gangs. Global National New has the full story.
I’d like to think the shooters had no idea a toddler was in the car as most criminals have an aversion to crimes against children. Somehow, though, I don’t think these guys really give a damn; they are out to settle a score, to make a point, and to make themselves look ‘tough’, regardless of who stands in their way.
Drugs kill. It’s as simple as that. Shoot the drugs into a vein or get shot for being associated to the drug trade; it makes no difference when the end result is the same. While a drug addict can learn to manage their addiction, a gang member intent on making a name for himself is a very dangerous person to all those around him.
But back to that little boy. My heart goes out to him, and to the officers and citizens who came to his aid. Being witness to such tragedy must have been horrible, and it is something those people will always remember. The Roanoke Cop said it best in a recent comment:
“The children are indeed the most difficult struggle. From the ones who die in your arms to the ones who will live in pain and struggle through neglect and abuse, they get in your soul and stay there.”
Last week’s post ‘This Week in Policing – Feb 13, 2009′ touched on the tragedy of innocent lives lost to avoidable circumstances. A comment from MB87 asked how death and other life altering events can change the lives of the officers responding to those calls, and asked how officer’s deal with such tragedies that occur on a somewhat regular basis.
For most, the secret is to not keep everything bottled up inside. Exercise. Eat properly. Expect that some things are going to bother you. Talk about them; with your friends, your peers, your spouse. When something is really getting under your skin, it’s not ’shop talk’ to bring it up and debrief whatever call is causing you trouble. Everyone has a different trigger.
For me, it’s the kids – I simply cannot stand to have anything bad happen to little children. The problem is this – bad things DO happen to children. As a police officer, I’ve seen the cases and the heartbreak, and I cope by not taking for granted the gift of my own family.
When a call bothers me, I talk about it. If it’s really affecting me, I write about it, much like I did several years ago after my partner and I were dispatched to assist the Ministry of Children and Families when their case worker assessed a family. The result was a non-fiction account of that experience:
TEMPEST FEATHER
The hollow sound of my partner’s knuckles on the cheap door was a sound I would never forget.
The knock was answered when the door creaked open an inch, held from within, the security chain visually cutting the woman’s face in half. Her eyes, a rich dark brown, peered out at us; she was my age. There was a faint rattle as the chain was removed, and in a show of reluctant compliance the woman stepped back and opened the door to allow us entry.
The low scent of garbage and old cooking assaulted my senses when I walked into the apartment and I was instantly stifled in the cramped space. From out of nowhere a small kitten pounced on my boot and batted at the laces before racing away, another kitten in pursuit. It was cute and I thought I should smile. I could not.
The social worker we were assigned to for the day was talking in soft tones to the brown-eyed woman, explaining why the government was concerned about the welfare of her children. The social worker’s voice was not without feeling, but the gravity of her words was unmistakable. The mother’s response was a gasp, a stark contrast to the filthy apartment we were in. The encounter took on a dreamlike quality as my gaze wandered, taking in belongings strewn about with everything covered in a layer of grime. The overwhelming stench of cat urine was starting to give me a headache.
A sigh escaped me as I made a conscious decision – my dark blue uniform would not touch the walls or furniture. I was so tired.
All those thoughts were struck away when a little girl toddled into view. She appeared at the end of the short hallway and made her way in my direction in the manner that belonged only to very young children. Her chubby legs pumped over various household items, her eyebrows knit together and her arms straight out for balance as she concentrated on not falling down. The only difference I could see between her and my own 18 month old daughter was the color of her hair.
My eyes welled up at the sight of her drooping diaper, dirty shirt and soft curls pulled up into pigtails that bounced in time with her footfalls. She closed the last few feet between us, her steps marked by a tremor in my chest. The gun on my hip and badge in my wallet were a clear testament to the authority I had been granted, but I was suddenly powerless in the face of this little child.
For in the few moments it took her to stumble towards me, I saw all the obstacles she would face. She would have no access to the privileges I had been fortunate enough to experience. Her single mother would likely struggle to raise her on an income classified as poverty, and the chance of her being apprehended to a foster home was high. Her full potential, held in an uncertain balance, was as fragile as a feather carried on the high winds.
My emotions threatened betrayal, unfallen tears blurring my vision as the little girl came to a stop in front of me. I knelt down to be at her level and her bright smile got bigger as she looked at me, her eyes small pools of wonder. The voices of my partner and the social worker faded away; the little girl was a small perfection. There was not a sound as her hand plopped onto my bent knee and as she reached with her other hand for the radio strung across my chest. Crowing with delight she grabbed the mike, and grinned when it made a short burst of static in her hand. I stopped her moments before she squeezed the talk button and I grinned back when she squeezed my finger instead. She giggled and squeezed again.
The moment was over too soon when a voice came back into focus. The social worker was still speaking to the little girl’s mother, but the child’s mother was not really listening; instead, she was watching me. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and her eyes were dark flint. My insides roiled as I gently pried my finger loose and stood up. With the social worker’s voice floating through the air like unimportant bubbles the little girl’s mother came towards me, her eyes held fast on mine. Even though it exhausted me, I did not look away. She picked her daughter up, finally breaking eye contact and giving me her back.
The little girl peeked back at me over her mother’s shoulder as she was spirited away, pigtails bobbing as she bounced against her mothers hip.
Later, that evening, I wept as I hugged my daughter close.
