Chief Constable Adam Palmer
Vancouver Police Department
2120 Cambie Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V5Z 4N6
[email protected]

Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner
5th Floor, 947 Fort Street
PO Box 9895, STN Prov Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9T8
[email protected]

Dear Chief Constable Palmer and Commissioner Rajan:
Re: Follow-up for Misconduct Investigation into VPD Constable Dimitri Sheinerman (VPD Member # 3390)

We understand that there is an ongoing investigation under the Police Act into member #3390’s conduct of wearing an Israeli flag patch on his uniform while on duty. We learned this in the OPCC response to our complaint dated April 29, 2024, in which we were informed that the photograph we provided of VPD member #3390 wearing an Israeli flag patch on November 19, 2023 has been provided to the investigating officer to assess in their existing investigation. We request that this correspondence also be forwarded to the disciplinary authority for that file (number unknown).

Further to our complaint dated April 29, 2024, we are deeply concerned to find out that Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Constable Dimitri Sheinerman, who has been observed on at least two occasions wearing the Israel flag patch on his uniform, was on active duty at least two further protests in support of Palestine, on May 14, 2024, at City Hall, and on May 31, 2024, at the rail crossing at Kaslo Street and Grandview Highway

Moreover, there is reason to believe that the patch included a “punisher” symbol in the bottom right corner, a symbol with known far-right associations.1

We would like to know: why was Constable Sheinerman deployed to be on duty at these protests against Israel’s actions when he is under investigation for wearing the Israel flag patch on his uniform, and possibly a known far-right symbol?

Unbiased Policing

As we noted in our initial complaint, the administration of justice must be objective and impartial. Police officers should not be affixing patches of foreign states to their uniforms or highlighting their political views while on duty and serving the public. Furthermore, in accordance with the Province
of British Columbia’s ‘Promotion of Unbiased Policing’ standard2, the Vancouver Police Board has a duty to promote equitable policing and ensure that all employees of the VPD are aware that they must deliver services impartially, in a manner that upholds human rights – without discrimination
based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, martial status, family status, disability, gender identity and expression, political beliefs, types of employment, economic or social standing – is communicated to all employees of the police force. Police officers must provide services to the public in a culturally safe, responsive, and trauma-informed manner.

In our view, Constable Sheinerman polices protests in support of Palestine in an overtly biased manner due to his blatant support for Israel while on duty. This is supported by Sukhi Gill’s account of Constable Sheinerman acting exceptionally violently towards protesters on May 31, 2024. Mr. Gill shared his observations during a press conference outside of the VPD headquarters on June 18, including that he witnessed Constable Sheinerman grab someone who was already being held by another officer, put them into a headlock and then drop them to the ground using their head. Subsequently, Gill saw other officers pull Sheinerman from the front of the police line to the back to prevent him from committing further violence.3

Based on this information, we do not believe that Constable Sheinerman is fit to serve the public as a member of the VPD. It is not rational to expect that he can provide policing services to people in Vancouver in compliance with BC’s Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination in the provision of services.4

If the patch Constable Sheinerman wore included a punisher symbol, then all the above concerns become escalated. Publicly available photos are not determinative. The Vancouver Police Department must be privy to either documentation or officer testimony which would resolve this important question, and it must be carefully investigated.

We respectfully request that the Vancouver Police Department consider terminating his employment forthwith. In the interim, we ask that the Discipline Authority on this file exercise their authority, under section 110(1) of the Police Act, to ensure that Constable Sheinerman is either suspended or reassigned to non-patrol duties pending the outcome of this complaint process. This is necessary to protect the public’s freedom of expression and physical safety pending the completion of the investigation.

We also request that the VPD review their policies and procedures related to staffing protest activity to ensure that members are not deployed if they have strong personal beliefs regarding the subject of the protest such that those beliefs may reasonably be expected to interfere with their professional judgement and thereby create a risk to the public.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and its just resolution.

Sincerely,
BC Civil Liberties Association

1. ‘It’s inflammatory’: Vancouver police officer’s patch ignites questions about objectivity (CTV News, February 16, 2024), online: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/vancouver-police-officer-is-directed-to-remove-star-of-david-patch-fromuniform-1.6772290.
2. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/police/standards/6-1-1-promoteunbiased.pdf
3. Available online: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8bLi00uEKP/?igsh=MXYzN2MyZTJhY3B0OQ==
4. BC Human Rights Code, section 8.