Thursday, June 09, 2005

Vancouver City Police news

Vancouver's top cop highest paid city
employee CBC News, (Jun 7 2005).

VANCOUVER – Vancouver's chief of police was the
highest paid employee on the civic payroll last year.
According to the city's 2004 statement of financial
information, Chief Jamie Graham took home more
than $223,000. But a police spokesperson says that
amount included back pay for missed vacation time
and a $16,000 bonus. The board decided not to pay
Graham a bonus this year.
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How about other perks like a fat expense account for
business trips, conferences and free new cars to test
drive? I guess the big question is, are we getting
what we are paying for. I'm going to go out on a limb
and say no. At a fundamental level, it's poor manage-
ment to pay someone a huge bonus when they have
gone way over their allotted yearly budget, having
made the decision to re-deploy police members from
other important roles in the community without the
permission of the boss.

And then there is the whole Pivot investigation and
affidavits, as well as the attempts to quash, or deny
the investigation of the RCMP into the complaints.
Highly ironic when trials for assault etc. and dismissals,
by Chief Jamie Graham have occurred as a result of
assault of Vancouver citizens by a few members of
our police force.

When looked at objectively, is Chief Graham providing
the Vancouver Police Department with the leadership,
vision and authority we need as a complex, diverse
and innovative city? It's a question that needs to be
asked of those in city hall.
************************************************
Chief slams critics, says report clears police
CBC News, (Mar 31 2005).

VANCOUVER – Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham
says a lengthy RCMP investigation has cleared his
department of nearly 60 allegations of misconduct in
the city's Downtown Eastside.

FROM JUNE 9, 2003: Dozens of complaints filed
against police

The Pivot report accused police of using excessive
force and conducting illegal searches in the city's
poorest neighbourhood. The complaints commissioner asked the RCMP to
investigate the Pivot charges. And now 18 months
and $1 million later, there is a final report. "Both the
RCMP and Vancouver police investigators concluded
that there was not a single case of criminal activity
by a Vancouver police officer. Not one," says the
police chief.

However, there are also nine cases involving assault
and abuse of authority in which RCMP investigators
conclude that allegations were substantiated – while
Vancouver police, who have the final say, disagree.
**********************************************
Police chief defends overspending
CBC News, (Oct 29 2004).

VANCOUVER – Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham
isn't making any apologies for the fact his department
has come up more than $5 million over budget.

FROM OCT. 28, 2004: Police spending drives city into red
**********************************************
Police Accountability Endorsed
By charlie smith, (2-Dec-2004 ). The Georgia Straight.
**********************************************
Police sorry for actions in prisoner's death,
says chief.
CBC News, (May 5 2004).

VANCOUVER
- Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham
admits officers should have done more to safeguard the
life of Frank Paul, who died in police custody back in
December 1998.

******************************************
Police dog credited with saving life of burglar
CKNW, (Jun, 08 2005).

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - A 43-year old
Vancouver man accused of breaking into a hair salon
on Cambie Street lost a lot of blood before he was
tracked down by investigators half an hour later in
the West End.

Constable Howard Chow says broken glass cut the
suspect's leg when he crawled through the window
he smashed to get inside the shop.

"The capture of this man by the police likely saved
his life. Police dog Jake was able to track this man
in excess of 1.5 kilometres and found him hiding in
a large cardboard box."

The man was rushed to St. Paul's Hospital where
emergency room staff reported he'd lost more than
three litres of blood --the average person has only
five litres of blood in his body.

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