By Bob
Photo by Stephen Dyrgas

Despite Chief Jim Chu’s recent apology for how police officers treated people in the Downtown Eastside during the 1990s under chiefs Canuel, Blythe and Graham, the same treatment continues today.

To members of the Vancouver Police Department: You are paid to protect.

You’ve been given a badge—use it, show compassion.

Serve and protect, don’t harass.

In the Downtown Eastside, people are being mistreated by the police for dumpster diving, just so they can survive by selling things they find on the 100 block of East Hastings. Others have been ticketed for things like jaywalking. Many of these people have mental illnesses, are homeless and do not have the means to pay steep fines. It’s time to give these people a break.

Police also spend too much time picking on panhandlers. Most of the panners are harmless, many too have mental illnesses. I’d rather see police going after the drunk or aggressive panhandlers.

Vancouver police have a history of bullying and harassing people, with much of their aggression being directed towards minorities. Think of the mistreatment and death of Frank Paul (whom I wrote about in Megaphone this past June) and other incidents against natives.

The torturing by police of an innocent Japanese man in the 1920s, in an attempt to get him to admit to a murder he never committed is another example. During the Depression, police beat unemployed rioters with their fists and clubs.

In the 1960s, police picked on “flower children”, people who had good intentions in life for love and peace. During the Gastown riot, which began as a peaceful demonstration, many police officers were looking for the opportunity to club some poor flower child.

Many innocent people not involved in the demonstration were attacked by cops with their riot sticks. Dozens of Vancouver police officers should have been charged and kicked off the force. Instead, out of 250 officers present, only seven officers were charged for excessive force.

I’ve had my own experiences with police. In the summer of 1972, I was just trying to cross at Davie and Thurlow Streets. Two patrolmen decided that they wanted some information about me. I guess I didn’t look too hip. I finally gave my Grandma Nellie’s address where I was staying. They took it down and eventually left me alone. I was doing nothing wrong, just minding my own business.

In the summer of 1999 (when I was feeling suicidal) a big motorcycle cop was making cracks about me being overweight to a nice girl working on a movie set, near Broadway and Granville Streets. I was also harassed in April 2003 at Robson and Broughton by officers in their motorcycle gear.

Chief Chu will be getting a letter about this experience. Thanks to those cops, I nearly took my life five weeks after the incident Chief Chu, please read that letter. Take it seriously. Tell your officers to give people respect. Most people are okay if you give them a chance.

Bob sells Megaphone at Choices Market – Cambie and 19th.