Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2003
Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Vancouver Courier
Contact:  http://www.vancourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474
Author: Mike Howell

AUTHORS OF POLICE ABUSE REPORT WON'T NAME NAMES

A world-renowned human rights group that released a damning report against 
the Vancouver police for its drug crackdown in the Downtown Eastside will 
not divulge names of cops who allegedly violated drug addicts' rights.

Jonathan Cohen, a researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch, said 
the group's report is aimed at raising public awareness of alleged human 
rights violations-not providing names of the cops involved so they can be 
disciplined by the department.

"Our purpose as an organization is not to act as judge and jury," said 
Cohen from New York. "I think there's sort of a fundamental 
misunderstanding of what we're doing. What we're presenting is a pattern of 
credible allegations of abuse and recommending that the system be 
redesigned and formulated in a way that makes it possible for people to 
lodge complaints about it."

Called "Abusing the User: Police Misconduct, Harm Reduction and HIV/AIDS in 
Vancouver," the report alleges instances of police "beating and otherwise 
mistreating drug users in custody, conducting public strip searches and 
using petty allegations such as jaywalking to justify stops and searches."

The report also documents a significant reduction in the use of needle 
exchange programs and other life-saving services stemming from addicts' 
alleged fear of police abuse and harassment.

Insp. Doug LePard, commander of the city-wide enforcement team conducting 
the three-month blitz on drug dealers, called the Human Rights Watch report 
"hopelessly flawed" and "lacking credibility." He also reiterated a 
challenge he issued when Pivot Legal Society brought forward similar 
complaints of police abuse-to provide names or badge numbers of the alleged 
abusive cops.

"They haven't done that," he said.

So far, the Vancouver Police Department has not received any written 
complaints against officers working in the Downtown Eastside. But Cohen 
believes that's because people are afraid to lodge complaints, knowing they 
will simply be investigated by police.

Cohen pointed out that police also investigate complaints filed with the 
Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner. His group's report recommends 
the city establish an independent commission to receive and investigate 
complaints.

LePard, however, said the commission can order a public hearing if it's not 
satisfied with the police's investigation.

LePard said the commission can also order another police department to 
investigate complaints against the Vancouver police-an alternative that 
LePard said has met with the approval of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

Cohen, one of two researchers who gathered information for the report, 
noted the methodology used in interviewing addicts is used by Human Rights 
Watch in 70 countries. The non-profit organization is highly regarded by 
politicians and peace activists around the world, and lists Nobel Peace 
Price winner Desmond Tutu and former foreign affairs minister Lloyd 
Axworthy as members of its board.

In fact, Axworthy will facilitate a June 10 meeting in Vancouver between 
Mayor Larry Campbell and Human Rights Watch. Campbell requested the meeting 
after criticizing the group as having "only a partial understanding of the 
issues at work" and casting a pall over the four-pillar drug strategy and 
the city's reputation.

The three-month blitz against drug dealers in the Downtown Eastside began 
April 7. Chief Const. Jamie Graham has said the crackdown will continue 
beyond three months, but with fewer than the 60 cops currently devoted to 
the project.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom