Pubdate: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 Source: The Province (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) Copyright: 1999 The Province Contact: (604) 605-2323 Mail: 200 Granville Street, Ste. #1 Vancouver, BC V6C 3N3 Canada Author: John Bermingham POLICE PROBING PANNED Media Intrusion Went Too Far, Says Commission Report New Westminster cops crossed the line when they clamped down on crack dealers along Columbia Street. A report Friday by the Police Complaints Commission faulted police handling of searches and media relations. Investigators found no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. But two Royal City cops face possible disciplinary action for allowing TV cameras to film suspects during a search. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association filed the complaint after watching a CBC-TV item on the crackdown on street-level dealers last November. It was concerned about police use of chokeholds on suspects in drug "take-downs." The association also took issue with police entering homes without search warrants and failing to protect people's privacy from the TV cameras. The report, which was done by Delta police, found that police did not use chokeholds, but instead used a "throat-hold" on suspects, which was acceptable. On searches, the report was critical of police for using two health inspectors to enter people's homes without warrants. It found that police also failed to protect the privacy of people, but obscured the faces of undercover officers while TV cameras rolled. There was no evidence that police explained why the media were present to the residents or that it got consent to allow TV crew inside. While the BCCLA objected to police giving voluntary cab rides to suspects out of the city, investigators could not find anyone to back up its claim. The report calls for more police training in a number of areas. New West police have since changed their policies in searches, media relations and the use of force. Police must now get informed consent before they can enter a residence. Chief Constable Peter Young said the report vindicated his officers. BCCLA spokesman Murray Mollard said such incidents shouldn't happen again. "These changes, if fully implemented and followed, should prevent a recurrence of the problems documented by the cameras," he said. The full report can be read at ( http://www.opcc.bc.ca/ ). - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake