VANCOUVER POLICE BOARD MINUTES of Regular Meeting
held on Wednesday July 18, 2007, 1:06 pm to 2:35 pm 2120 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC
Board Members Present Mayor Sam Sullivan Jerry Adams Terry La Liberté Mary McNeil Patti Marfleet Dale Parker Glenn Wong Present Chief Constable Jamie Graham DCC Jim Chu DCC Doug LePard DCC Bob Rich DCC Rolls Insp. Lemcke [#7] Hollie Riordan, Board Executive Director
The Regular Meeting was called to order at 1:06 pm. 1. Adoption of Regular Meeting Agenda MOVED / SECONDED: THAT the Vancouver Police Board approve the Regular Meeting Agenda for July 18, 2007. CARRIED 2. Approval of Minutes MOVED / SECONDED: THAT the Vancouver Police Board approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of June 20, 2007. CARRIED 3. Delegations 3.1 Susan Davis – Member: BC Coalition of Experiential Women Ms. Davis outlined her concerns relative to enforcement in exotic dance clubs in relation to the impact of this on safety for prostitutes. Her primary concern was the safety of women and diminishing venues that she believes provide greater working safety than the street. Ms. Davis explained that she has been waiting for a working committee to convene. 3.2 Terri Williams – Downtown Eastside Resident Ms. Williams described her experience living in the Downtown Eastside. She indicated that she would like to see the Downtown Eastside become a safer place to live with less crime and disorder. Chief Constable Graham referred Ms. Williams to DCC LePard who provided her his business card for contact.
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4. Chief Constable's Report CC Graham began with an announcement that this would be the last Police Board meeting he would attend in his capacity as Chief of Police. He then described a letter he had written to the RCMP, prior to their selection of the new Commissioner, endorsing the model of civilian oversight of policing that occurs in BC under the Police Act. He indicated that his experience working with a Board that was “active, vibrant and involved” had been a pleasurable one, and that he endorsed this model strongly. A review of the 2007 budget shows the VPD in a modest surplus position. This is the third year that the VPD will come in under budget. Three new police dogs were introduced in anticipation of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Dog Squad. The dogs introduced were: Blade and Bosco (brothers), and Diesel (the dog named through the January 2006 contest). The 50th anniversary event will be held at the Burrard Seaforth Armouries, on November 17, 2007, from noon until 5 p.m., with the VPD Dog Squad. Recruiting has not been difficult for the VPD in the past. Departmental reputation and a desire to live in Vancouver have previously been enough to attract a large selection of candidates. It is no longer the case. Changing demographics as well as strategic policing needs have changed the face of recruiting and require a more creative approach and direct marketing to those who meet the criteria required by the VPD. CC Graham went on to describe the challenges of retention. We are still a destination Department, and police officers from other organizations continue to choose to move to the VPD. It is also important to note that women in VPD make up 25% of the sworn members – this is the highest percentage in the country. DCC LePard was invited to attend the June annual conference of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, and as part of the conference was asked to speak to an international group of lawyers on the subject of wrongful convictions. In addition, in advance of the conference, DCC LePard co-authored with a Crown counsel a chapter in an ISRCL book on wrongful convictions describing the model response by the VPD to the 2004 Heads of Prosecution report on miscarriages of justice. He noted that to date, while there had been a number of notorious wrongful convictions in various jurisdictions in Canada, there hasn’t been one identified involving the VPD and the work done to date will minimize the chances of that occurring. The CC introduced Insp. Gord Coburn, who is retiring imminently, and asked him to provide an update to the Board on Facilities. Insp. Coburn stated that there were two major facilities projects almost underway: the new Dog Squad and the New Force Options building. He also outlined how the City planned to expropriate land from the current parking lot where police vehicles, the kiosk and the Dog Squad currently reside. The VPD has been asked by the City to find an interim location for the Dog Squad until the new facility is complete. The Inspector closed by stating that he had enjoyed his career at the VPD and had no regrets. DCC Rolls stated that he had always been impressed by Insp. Coburn’s ability to manage so many projects simultaneously.
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5. CAPB Annual Meeting and Conference Sponsorship MOVED/SECONDED 1. THAT the Board approve the travel of Terry La Liberte, Dale Parker and Patti Marfleet to the CAPB Conference in Calgary, August 17-20th. 2. THAT the Board approve sponsorship in the amount of $1000 to the CAPB Annual Conference. CARRIED 6. Correspondence & Information The Vancouver Police Board receive as information the following: 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 COMPSTAT Compliments letters received to date Report #0745: Public Complaints Statistics for May 2007 Report #0746: Public Complaints Statistics for June 2007 Letter from Canadian Cancer Society re: Cops for Cancer Campaign
7. Major City Policing Model – Presentation Inspector Lemcke provided a PowerPoint presentation that outlined his visit to New York City, and the time he spent with sanitation and the police discussing how the City has managed to decrease their crime rate by almost 70 percent in the course of less than 20 years. The focus of the presentation was: What are we willing to tolerate in terms of behaviour? What are we willing to accept with in terms of crime? Interagency cooperation A rising tide raises all boats: improving the “Quality of Life” by taking care of the small things Giving the police the tools they require (enforceable municipal bylaws) to deal with issues of disorder Federal, provincial and municipal governments working together with the private sector to end homelessness and provide shelter and housing options Federal, provincial and municipal governments working together with the private sector to provide services to the mentally ill and to addicted persons
When asked by Board member Glenn Wong what he would like if he could be granted three wishes, Insp. Lemcke responded with: 1. Help the homeless, mentally ill and drug addicted 2. Give the police enforcement tools (bylaws and tickets) with consequences 3. Longer court sentences for chronic offenders
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8. Closing question period Member of the Public, Ms. Terri Williams, described disorder in her Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, and asked Insp. Lemcke if public disorder enforcement would take place in Gastown. Insp. Lemcke explained the current ticket issuing process and that there is little consequence for those who receive these tickets but that police officers are still actively writing tickets for such offences as urinating in public. 9. Enquiries and other business Though this is portion of the meeting is intended for Board members to raise any new enquires or business, the Chair permitted member of the Press, Mr. Stanley Tromp, to ask for clarification of the Board’s understanding of s.69 of the Police Act as it pertains to providing access to all Board Committee meetings to members of the public. Hollie Riordan, the Board’s Executive Director informed the Board that she had received Mr. Tromp’s questions after-hours the previous night and had sent Police Services a request for clarification and a legal opinion, and had conveyed this to Mr. Tromp in advance of the meeting. Mr. Tromp also asked for clarification from the Department on the policy related to the release of names of victims, particularly where the deceased may have committed suicide. He sited a specific instance where neither the victim’s name nor cause of death was reported. CC Graham explained to Mr. Tromp that it was the position of the Department to be sensitive in such circumstances, and that it was his experience that members of the Press generally respected this same practice. The Chief Constable indicated this is the Coroner’s jurisdiction. The Regular Meeting was adjourned at 2:35 pm.
APPROVED BY THE VANCOUVER POLICE BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
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At its in camera meeting on July 18, 2007, the Vancouver Police Board: 1. was briefed by the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constables on matters which they requested be presented in camera discussed personnel issues approved amendments/additions/deletions to the following sections of the Regulations and Procedures Manual: 2.12: Handcuffs Prison Restraints 19.01: Relations with News Media 19.02: Marketing and Communications Policy 31.01: Use of Force – Justification 31.03 Use of Force – Restraint Devices 48.04: Body Armour 49.07 Issue Equipment – Handcuffs [These amendments to the RPM were on the in camera agenda because they either included operational information, which if disclosed publicly could impair effective policing, or a matter concerning information that a person has requested he or she be allowed to give in private to the board or committee.] 4. approved requests for payment of necessary and reasonable legal costs for police officers, pursuant to section 9.9(b)(i) and (iii) of the Collective Agreement with the Vancouver Police Union. received the 2nd Quarter Report on Board expenditures for legal bills approved the acceptance of a donation to the Police Athletic League [This item was on the in-camera agenda because it was related to a matter concerning information that a person has requested he or she be allowed to give in private to the board or committee.] 7. other business discussed by the Board included: the Chair thanked the Chief Constable for his years of service planning of a strategic planning workshop
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