As police officers, we most often see people at the height of emotion.
Citizens do not call 911 simply to ask their friendly neighborhood police officer to stop by for a cup of tea – they call 911 because they need the immediate assistance of police to deal with whatever situation has unfolded. In most cases, it is because someone has just committed an offence against them and they need help RIGHT NOW.
And when someone needs help RIGHT NOW, they are usually very focused on what needs to be done. Either that or they’re running around like Chicken Little and screaming, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”
In either case, we as police get to see people acting far outside of their comfort zone. The only way to help the Chicken Littlers is to get them to calm down and find out what the issue is, and trust me, this is harder than it sounds. It’s like trying to herd cats.
What I’m trying to get at is this – when in the midst of a crisis, people are not concerned about manners, idealisms, or political correctness. At times such as these, many people are not on their best behaviour, and not that I would expect them to be. To act a little wild when someone has done you or a loved one harm is a natural reaction. Just rein it in and use your energy in a constructive fashion. Be a good witness. Remember a licence plate. Be coherent enough to provide a statement. Be able to recall just one distinguishing feature. Sometimes none of this is possible, but you have to try.
Then there are the cases where a person in crisis is very brave and mature beyond their years. Such was the case last week that found 14 year old Olivia at home alone in Delta.
At approx 9:40 pm on Friday, April 24th, Olivia heard someone at the door. Not expecting anyone, Olivia grabbed the cordless phone, locked herself in a bedroom and called her father. Her father was able to get 911 and Olivia connected on the phone, and as police were en-route, an unknown male suspect broke into the house. When the suspect entered the room she was hiding in, Olivia hid under a pile of clothes, communicating with the 911 call taker by pushing the buttons on her phone.
Olivia remained calm and focused all her attention at getting through the situation. She did a great job – police were on the scene within minutes and arrested the suspect inside the house.
To see the local news clip and to hear the communication between Olivia and the 911 call taker, visit this link provided by the Vancouver Sun:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/videos/index.html#lHrLH1JzarrXtRgw4DWrblKrxBOyRyrc
Many Lower Mainland residents have heard this clip already, so this is more for those who have not heard the story or the tape before now. The 911 call taker, Kelly Pater, is remarkable and proof again that a good dispatcher is priceless. Kudos to Olivia for being brave.
It never ceases to amaze me how some adults can get themselves into so much trouble.
A friend told me of a recent school yard fight that turned nasty when one of the parents got involved and allegedly assaulted a young teenager. Now the adult is facing numerous criminal charges and possible jail time. I’m not privy to any inside facts, and I’m being purposely vague about the incident to protect all those involved, but come on people!
Adults assaulting young adults is simply not a good idea. For that matter, assaulting anyone is a poor choice, but particularly so for a person expected to know better.
It’s like the occasional crazy hockey/lacrosse/baseball parent I’ve seen in action - some of them could get a group discount on anger management courses with their child’s sports registration. I’m not kidding. The behaviour of some adults is embarrassing. How are the kids suppose to learn about sportsmanship and teamwork when they’re being bellowed at from the sidelines by a parent?
But back to the adult who allegedly assaulted the youngster. That’s a ‘hot’ button for me – nothing gets my dander up like a bully, and that’s essentially what these types of people are.
Project Rebellion
Earlier this week the Vancouver Police Department made several arrests stemming from the investigation dubbed ’Project Rebellion’. Chief Constable Jim Chu released a statement, printed in the Vancouver Sun, about the combined effort between police agencies to make our streets safer.
Immediately after Chief Chu’s statement came a statement prepared by Deputy Chief Constable Doug Lepard. His statement, about our war on gangs, is a must read:
“When there is a gang war, and we’ve been in the thick of one, citizens can rightly ask of their police department, where do you start?
If it was just one gang fighting a second gang perhaps the answer would be simple. The problem is that the Lower Mainland is plagued with many gangs, the members often freely move back and forth among the gangs, doing deals for whoever will hire them and they attract a variety of enemies along the way.
Trying to eliminate this web of criminals is a bit like the arcade game “Whack-a-Mole” – as soon as you hit one, another one pops up. You can’t hope to make a difference by just taking them out one at a time.
While the task is challenging, we know that it is not impossible. To stay with the metaphor, if we take out the group of moles that are causing the most damage, then we have a chance to lessen the problem across the board.
Not many months ago, all the Lower Mainland police agencies met to decide which gangs should receive the bulk of our attention. For the Vancouver Police, the choice was clear. We were going to concentrate on the gangsters who posed the greatest threat to the safety of our community.
The targets chosen in what you now know as Project Rebellion were the violent members of the Sanghera crime group centred in southeast Vancouver. As Chief Chu just said, we have arrested more of them and charged them with dozens of crimes.
We still have one more arrest to make at this point, and we will continue to work hard to build more cases. Inspector Porteous will tell you about the one person we are looking for and plan to arrest soon with your help. He will also show you some video of the sweep we made yesterday. We are not letting up with these arrests. I assure you we will be back in this room again for the same purpose.
I want to thank Inspector Porteous and his team for their outstanding work on Project Rebellion. I cannot say enough about the dedication of him and his team, many of whom worked extremely long days and nights, and often for weeks on end without days off. From the investigators to the surveillance teams to those involved in covert duties, to civilian analysts and support staff – the commitment to this project was truly beyond the call.
I would also like to add my thanks to Crown Counsel Teresa Mitchell-Banks, who has had to work through the massive volumes of information we’ve provided her, as well as taking matters like the Sanghera bail application to Supreme Court. I’d also like to thank IGTF and CFSEU for providing resources to the VPD to assist with this very costly investigation.
I will just conclude by saying that, in a gang war, the streets of our communities have too often been the battleground where it is fought. By getting these criminals off the street and into jail we are making our communities safer for everyone.”
– Deputy Chief Constable Doug Lepard
In other news:
Lower Mainland:
- Road Criminal - One police car is out of service after trying to ‘close the distance’ on a fleeing Ferrari. Multiple citizens called in to report a red sports car driving erratically on the Barnet Hwy in Port Moody on Wednesday afternoon, and when a police officer tried to stop the Ferrari it took off. At a high rate of speed. Unfortunately, the police cruiser hit a patch of gravel and spun out of control. The end result was damage to the police car and a minivan – thankfully no one was injured. The Ferrari got away, but the owner has been identified and the investigation is ongoing.
United States:
- Morrisainia, New York - a teacher at a middle school was arrested earlier today after he barricaded himself in a classroom and threatened to blow up the school. It appears the man was disgruntled about disciplinary action taken against him for previous conduct, and he said there was a bomb in the library. The school, which has a capacity for 1200 students, was evacuated and police negotiators and SWAT were called in. The man surrendered after a three hour standoff, and was taken into custody without incident. No bomb was located. How much do you want to bet this man’s teaching days are over?
Weird News:
This time, I bring you a story that proves once again sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.
Last week, other officers and I responded to a call of a convenience store robbery. It appears the suspect allegedly robbed the store at knife point, then sat outside the store. Instead of calling 911, the store clerk called his boss. The suspect, impatient about the delay in police arriving to arrest him, allegedly picked up the payphone next to the store and called 911 himself.
Why?
He had an outstanding drug debt and wanted to go to jail where he would be ’safe’.
Guess the joke’s on him. He was arrested and charged, and then released on bail.
Why is it that every time our hockey team starts to do well in the playoffs the ‘goons’ of the Lower Mainland think it’s okay to wreck havoc on the streets?
Like last night on the Surrey/Delta border. An otherwise happy crowd of 1500-2000 hockey fans had a few participants intent on causing trouble. One RCMP officer ended up with a broken leg, and a small number of people were taken into custody. Talk about ruining the celebration for everyone else.
For the most part, Canucks fans are good, law abiding citizens. Yes, these same citizens might drink a few too many beers on occasion and get a bit rambunctious in their celebrations, but they don’t start fights with who ever looks at them sideways or cause damage to property.
For the most part, Canucks fans are people like you and me (even though I’m not that partial to beer).
So to all those hooligans waiting to cause trouble at celebrations like a winning streak in the NHL playoff race or a community event like the annual fireworks, I’ll keep this simple – do us all a favour and stay home or stay away.
denial:
1) a refusal to satisfy a request or desire
2) a) refusal to admit the truth or reality, b) refusal to acknowledge a person or a thing
3) negation in logic
4) a psychological defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality
- Merriam-Webster
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Ten years ago today, at 11:10 am MST on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, two students went on a rampage at a highschool, killing thirteen people and wounding twenty three others before turning their weapons on themselves.
Columbine, Colorado.
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Last Friday, I was privileged to see a one day presentation by Lt. Col Dave Grossman (ret.), a West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science and member of the Warrior Science Group. His biography is incredibly impressive, and he brought his expertise, knowledge and obvious passion for public service to his audience.
One of the main points he stresses is that tragedies like the Columbine High School shootings can and will happen again if we do not take steps to negate the threat.
We cannot live in denial and pretend that life is roses. There are those out there ready and willing to do us and our children harm – we need to be prepared, and train for the eventuality.
We have learned from Columbine. We must continue to train. We must continue to be aware enough to put aside our petty differences and have the will to challenge certain laws that inhibit the protection of our society.
And believe me, there are policies in place that have no business standing between us and safety.
It’s not nice to be perfectly aware of what is waiting for us if we are not careful, but we cannot afford to be like an ostrich with our head stuck in the sand.
We owe it to each other and to our society.
Spring in Vancouver can only mean one thing after a reasonably successful hockey season – Stanley Cup Playoffs! I know, I know…this is suppose to be a police-related blog, but I simply cannot help myself. Go Canucks!
Okay, back to business…
Vancouver
On Thursday, April 9th, a body was discovered on the grounds of Sir Carleton Elementary School by parents dropping their kids off for the morning. The victim had been murdered, and was identified as 41 year old Michael Ciro Nestoruk, a homeless man who was confined to a wheelchair. So far, up to this point, the identity of the suspects, the motive for the killing and the weapon used have not been determined. If you have any information about this incident, you are asked to call investigators at (604)717-2500, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
What’s incredibly disturbing about this crime is that the target was a disabled man who clearly was not able to protect himself against the attack. Who would do such a thing? It just sickens me.
On April 14th, the Aston Jewellery store located in the 200 block Robson St was robbed by three suspects. They allegedly came through the door as staff were opening for the day and started smashing cases while one suspect was in possession of a firearm.
It appears the suspects picked a ‘hard target’, as the store owner is said to have pulled out his own gun and fired off a shot. I would hazard a guess the suspects had not expected that, particularly in a city where legal firearms possession is under strict legislation, as the suspects beat feet to get out of there. They were last seen fleeing in an older model, early 2000’s four door car that was a slightly dirty grey or blue with a tinted rear window.
Again, anyone with information is asked to call investigators at (604)717-2541, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
From Across the Pond
In a bid to stop speeders, a village just 40 kilometers northeast of London had proposed potholes in some roadways not be filled in. From the view of the Navestock Parish Council, potholes could be considered ‘naturally traffic calming’ and would prevent those with a lead foot from racing down certain streets.
The idea did not get very far when Essex County, the higher authority in charge of road maintenance, overode the decision.
I don’t know about you, but I consider potholes a hazard. Yes, potholes make everyone slow down, but they also cause drivers to make erratic and sudden lane changes in an attempt to avoid them, especially when a pothole is unexpected. Erractive driving habits = accidents = injury/property damage. Not good. Particularly from a liability stand point.
It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend, everyone, so get out there and enjoy it. Me? I’m all geared up for Game #3 of the playoffs on Sunday evening. Go Canucks!
The adrenalin racing through my veins took me by surprise. My partner and I weren’t poised outside an apartment door to serve a high risk warrant, and we weren’t there on a call that would put us in any sort of physical peril. I desperately wanted to follow the ‘flight’ portion of my body’s adrenal reaction, but that simply was not an option.
I took a breath and held my peaked cap up to my chest as my partner reached out to knock on the door. The faint tremor in his hand belied his emotion; he didn’t want to be there any more than I did.
Footfalls from inside the apartment padded to the other side of the door and the peephole went dark. The woman looking out at us was living the last few seconds of her life as she knew it, and a band tightened around my chest when she opened the door. The reality of our visit had already begun to spread across her face.
“Is it Sally?” she whispered.
I pressed my lips together. My partner was a statue beside me. One of us had to.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
She visibly crumbled. Her pupils grew huge and her eyes seemed to eat up her face. With her hands clutched to her face, Sally’s mother fell to the floor, her wails echoing down the hall.
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Next of Kin notifications.
Where an officer is assigned to tell a family a loved one has died. There is not an officer I know who looks forward to the task, of being the bearer of bad news.
To seeing the absolute pain and devastation a death can render on the living. To be witness to raw grief. To indifference.
And yes, even to relief.
Policing, for all it’s excitement and Hollywood appeal, is one that requires you to be on your game at all times. You have to be physically and mentally prepared to do the job.
You have to remember even the biggest, toughest cop has limitations – you just have to be aware of what your own limitations are and plan accordingly. I, for one, am not a little gal. At 5′10″, I can hold my own, but I am still perfectly aware that I am no match for a goal-oriented male suspect of similar stature.
That’s why I have a plan (actually, I have many plans…all are situational). I have the “What-if” conversation with myself on a regular basis, and I go over other officer’s incidents to try and learn something from every source I can.
Obsessive? I don’t think so. I call it having a plan to go home to my family at the end of every shift.
That said, training only takes you so far. You have to be mentally prepared to step up when you are called into action. You have to know that you will not hesitate when you really need to do something that scares the crap out of you (or at least makes you very nervous). I’ve been there. Almost every cop I know worth his or her salt has been there. When faced with ‘that’ situation, an officer will know right away if they have what it takes.
Thankfully, most do.
Happy Easter everyone!
This weeks post is coming a day early due to the holiday weekend.
For most of this past week, the attention has been on the tragic loss of 53 year old Wendy Ladner-Beaudry. My most heartfelt condolences go to the family and loved ones of Ladner-Beaudry, who was found dead in Pacific Spirit Park last Friday afternoon after she was killed while jogging on a trail. Ladner-Beaudry leaves behind a grieving husband and two daughters, as well as a legacy of good will and volunteer work. What a loss.
Wendy Ladner-Beaudry
What really strikes me about this case is that it happened to a woman who, by all appearances, was alert, aware of her surrounding and very fit. I think the basis of this woman’s death makes everyone uneasy, as there are so many questions surrounding the ‘who and why’. I know I’ve thought twice about going for a run since last Friday, and I always run with my four-legged partner.
There’s not much else I can say. Again, my thoughts are with Ladner-Beaudry’s family and all those who knew and loved her.
