Vancouver, B.C. – The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is questioning Chief Chu’s decision to release a memo detailing information about a VPD shooting to all Vancouver Police officers. The memo, released publicly by Global TV and by Sgt. Mark Tonner in his column in the Province, allegedly details Chief Chu’s impressions of the contents of a videotape of the shooting.

“The release of this memo by Chief Chu to all VPD members appears to be a serious error of judgment on the part of the Chief, and shows exactly why evidence like this should be handled by civilian investigators, not the police,” said David Eby, acting Executive Director of the BCCLA. “Criminal investigation use of evidence should never be subordinated to public relations use.”

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association has advocated for years for a civilian body to investigate police involved deaths. The Association was backed in this position by retired Justice William H. Davies, Q.C., who in the Frank Paul Inquiry found ongoing problems with the manner in which the Vancouver Police Department investigates itself in situations of police-involved deaths. He called for civilian investigations of both criminal and code of conduct investigations of police in such situations.

“Incidents like this are exactly why the VPD supposedly delegated this investigation to the Abbotsford Police Department,” says Eby. “This videotape description, independent of its accuracy, was distributed apparently without concern for influencing internal or external witness statements.”

MEDIA CONTACT:
David Eby, Acting Executive Director, (778) 865-7997