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News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Police Abuse Not A Concern In Vancouver
Title:CN BC: Police Abuse Not A Concern In Vancouver
Published On:2005-11-10
Source:Province, The (CN BC)
Fetched On:2008-08-19 06:09:57
POLICE ABUSE NOT A CONCERN IN VANCOUVER

But Legal Society Vows Further Battle On 50 Brutality Complaints

An angry Pivot Legal Society is planning its next legal move after
the final report from Police Complaint Commissioner Dirk Ryneveld
into allegations of police abuse.

In a dramatic change of tone from an earlier interim report, Ryneveld
is now satisfied with police actions taken regarding 50 complaints of
police brutality Pivot filed in June 2003.

"Only 11 of 39 officers co-operated with the investigation," said
David Eby, a lawyer with Pivot. "As far as we're concerned, this
isn't satisfactory."

Pivot wanted a public inquiry into the allegations, while Ryneveld
said with policy and procedure changes in the pipeline no inquiry is needed.

"I am satisfied that the public interest would not be served by
holding public hearings with respect to any of the outstanding
complaints in question," Ryneveld wrote. "I am persuaded that the
review by the Vancouver Police Board into both the use of force
policy and the breach of peace policy will result in improved police
practices."

Eby said a group of the society's lawyers will gather to plan their
next move, to be announced on Monday.

Eby said an independent RCMP investigation substantiated abuse in 14
of the cases, but Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham had his
officers re-investigate and "unsubstantiate" those charges.

"We don't understand how that can happen," said Eby.

Ryneveld blasted Graham's interference earlier, but now predicts the
abuse is a thing of the past.

"There is reason for optimism that, in light of a change of attitude
by the VPD and changes in policy recommended by the Vancouver Police
Board, the underlying problems will likely not reoccur," he wrote.

Eby said his clients, many of them poor and marginalized, took a
large risk by going public with the hope that more would be done.

"Our clients will believe it when they see it," said Eby of
Ryneveld's prediction of less abuse in the future. "A lot of people
put their necks on the line."

The Vancouver Police Department issued a terse press release, stating:

"We acknowledge that it has been a long and expensive process
involving more than two years of investigations, hundreds of police
hours and more than a million dollars in expenses. We are pleased
that this matter has been concluded and with the conclusions that
have been reached."
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