FOLLOW-UP: The Vancouver Police Chief Must Come Clean On ‘Porngate’–What Were the Real Specifics?
Through the kindness of a pal with a friendly station, I got to review the entire police press conference from last week (several times)–a press conference organized in response to my breaking news piece on the VPD’s ‘Porngate’.
Some interesting points have come out of this and I encourage the mainstream press to pursue these questions as they remain vital to the integrity of the investigation and the subsequent punishment meted out to the dozen and a half officers involved (including an Inspector).
1) What specifically in the Vancouver Police Code of Conduct was broken? We were told by the VPD that none of the images were illegal. Fine. But who determined that? Once again, the VPD are investigating the VPD.
2) What assurances do we have that no criminality was involved? In the absence of releasing the files to the public, why don’t they release some of them to the press? After all, the images are NOT illegal according to the police. I have some of the images.
3) Who specifically was involved in the review (all members please) and what was their relationship to any of the accused officers? (This is VERY important!)
4) Were complaints lodged with the Police Complaints Commissioner? Were complaints lodged with the Attorney General? What are the results of those complaints?
These are VERY important questions here considering the subsequent information I’ve received from internal police sources. Do not discount them. ‘Porngate’ is a very serious matter that the VPD should not be allowed to just sweep under the rug.
It speaks to the very culture fostered by Jim Chu since he was hired, and that culture continues to sink officer morale, where it sits at an all-time low.
This story is FAR from over….
Stay tuned!
NOTE TO THE CHIEF AND HIS ADMINISTRATION: I am simply doing this to give you an opportunity to not complain about being blind-sided, so do the right thing, please.
Has there ever been a time around here where it wasn’t cops investigating cops? It’s become a big joke, really… because who has ANY confidence in these investigations..? And how can they?
The results of all these investigations are an ongoing embarrassment to common sense. The cops go to some guy’s house, knock on the wrong door and beat the crap out of the very surprised and innocent victim… and the internal investigation finds no problem?
The sad thing is that that’s what most people expected the outcome to be.
In this case, there would’ve been no porngate unless Alex had blown it open. Now it’s here, and they disclose as little as they can get away with. When they’re again caught lying or withholding, as they will be when Alex unleashes more details, they’ll frantically address that and just that. And so on.
Zero responsibility, zero accountability and zero confidence from the general public. A sad situation all around.
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The saddest part is that there are so many really good cops on the VPD roll. The vast majority of them are superb cops. But they are led by someone who is more political than principled; in for himself and not the greater good.
How does a police Chief survive after having turned the VPD administration into a PR consultancy? He’s a disgrace, as are any of those who follow him.
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Chu saying none of the images were illegal is the biggest red herring in the stinking can and yes Alex, there are still many really good and decent cops BUT…
One of the casualties in this whole mess is that the public’s trust and confidence in all cops is being eroded; badly eroded. When you look at all the crap that has come down over the last few years with law enforcement in all jurisdictions; tasers, shootings, drunkenness, perjury, sexual abuse, Cash Heed and on and on, how can we not be looking at every cop with some degree of suspicion. Not good at all.
I have several acquaintances both on the job and retired and more than a couple of them will no longer say what they do or did for a living because they are embarrassed by it all. Some just say they work for the city.
Lately, when a cop pulls alongside, I catch myself wondering, is he good cop, bad cop, porn cop or pork chop.
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Lots of merit to your very fine points.
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Why did Chu get the position over Heed or Rich? Could it be to appease the Asian community?
We have all seen what happened to Heed in West Vancouver as well as in provincial politics. He has been a disaster! He was touting himself as the first South Asian Chief Constable in Canada. A credit to his people? I think not.
Rich went to Abbotsford and, from what I am told, went about his business very quietly and professionally. He has more than earned “his spurs” as Chief Constable” in a city that was once “the murder capital” of Canada!
It is not about race or color, however, why is it that Bob Rich is the only one of the 3 that has “survivedbuilt bulit a solid reputation? Could it be that he is not an ego maniac like Heed and Chu?
It is time that Chu goes the way of the Do-do bird and Heed!
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He got the job because Sam Sullivan was planning to run for Mayor again and he was watching his poll numbers die in the Asian community. That’s the ONLY reason Chu is Chief.
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no surprise there and also no surprise on officers representing both Vancouver and Canadian police Monday announced their support of federal Bill C-30 in its present form no less … i know the bill is being re-worked but the officers must be like Vic Toews and not read Bill 30 either as the police or an official (as the bill was worded) could gain access to one’s internet activity WITHOUT A WARRANT. As the police and any other group has shown … give them more power and they will quickly use it … too often abuse it … dumb old me … i thought the Conservatives were about more personal freedom not less.
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I don’t disagree. Access without a warrant is totally unacceptable.
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I’m now told that access without warrant is only in case of imminent danger to life and has to be authorized by an Officer which is the same as it is now where an Officer (Inspector & above) can turn on phone taps in any such case (ie Ransom kidnapping, etc) but once that’s done they have to get before a judge as quickly as possible.
To me that’s not only reasonable but totally necessary. If my family member were the victim I wouldn’t want the cops cooling their heels in the courthouse lobby waiting for a judge.
I agree that absent those circumstances, judicial authorization should be required as I’ve known cops I wouldn’t trust with that power but they need to greatly streamline the process the police have to go through to get Intercept Authorizations or Search Warrants.
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Correct. I’ve been told the same thing.
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Has anyone considered that these officers were trying to kill two birds with one stone?
If they were watching CBC (hard) they would have been porn surfin’ en francais.
If that was the case, your Fereral tax dollars were at “work’ folks paying for CBC porn and paying Provincal employees to watch it.
Boning up on their French as it were.
Just sayin’
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LOL!
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A wire service report in the Toronto Sun says B.C.’s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) “was consulted, but referred the matter as internal discipline.”
Interesting how your blog brought about the VPD’s public acknowledgement. I think the way cases are handled depends on whether they get publicity, the attention of an influential group or caught on video. But instead of just focusing on cops, we should also scrutinize the people who supposedly keep them accountable. That means the OPCC:
http://www.royalcityrecord.com/news/Local+police+case+raises+questions/6167958/story.html
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I am told today by another senior VPD officer that until I made it public they had no intention to do anything. There weren’t any punishments ready to be meted out. Incredible. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated! It’s tough for me to keep on top of everything, and I appreciate it very much.
Thank you again, Greg.
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Our city cops are on course with their serge coated buddies .
No accountability, no transparency and damn the public. Don’t people realize that the slogan (more of a cliche) “Serve and Protect’ ,translated , means ‘serve ourselves first, serve our employer and lastly serve the public’.Little wonder the average Joe regards the police with so much suspicion when every time there is an incident, it’s a case of circling the wagons.
Predictable and disheartening.
ps… keep up the good fight Alex.
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Thanks Pat! Much appreciated. And you’re absolutely right!
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this is an interesting discussion,
the police dep shouldt had taken swift and meaningful action at the get go
only taking action when outed is a disgrace.
chief chu is only a symptom of a major problem in this city
all levels from the city manager position down is supposed to be independent and free offf political influence
regretfully this appears not to be the case.
mr chu it is not to late to late to bring integrity and faith back to our police dept,
the buck stops with you sir.
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Thanks, Harry. Yeah, they had no intention of doing anything with it until I dropped the bombshell.
Quite ridiculous.
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The Victoria members are freaking out, they found a loaded gun under Chief Graham’s seat in his personal car when searching for the missing riot gear. It might have even come here in Vancouver. Very very serious consequences and offences re unsafe storage, evertybody’s wondering if it’ll be covered up.
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You’re kidding, right?
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What is our dear premier’s educational background and her entrepreneurial history? Just curious ’cause after a year in office there doesn’t seem to be any. Mind you, droppin’ those ‘g’s turns everybody on.
“You want fries with that?”. Adios
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Other than the job Patrick Kinsella told me he arranged for her at CKNW, she used to work for the federal Liberals as a junior assistant and before that as a short order cook and waitress at the Blue Boy Motor Inn.
That’s it.
Oh, and she’s “studied” at SFU, where she was essentially chased away after getting caught cheating in student body elections; the University of Edinburgh where she “studied” divinity and the Sorbonne, where she “Studied” French. Never longer than a term’s work at any.
Which has me asking again: How come NONE of the French media in BC don’t demand answers from her in their mother tongue? She went to the Sorbonne. Please don’t tell me someone went the Sorbonne and can’t speak French!
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not kidding!
http://www.theprovince.com/Victoria+chief+disciplined+improperly+stored+firearm/6192258/story.html
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Geezus….
My apologies, what a stupid thing to have done. Unbelievable…
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