Many of you will have heard the news by nowthe Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Department recommended 163 charges to Crown counsel against 60 suspects in connection with the June 15 Stanley Cup riot.
Video evidence played a big part in identifying the suspects, according to police, who have processed more than 30 terabytes of data (equivalent to 7,500 DVDs or 45,000 CDs).
OK, so thats a lot of footage.
But I was wondering whether the citys use of 14 surveillance cameras during Game 7 was helpful in leading to the arrest of the 60 suspects.
Riot reviews conducted by the VPD and the city recommended further looks at using more surveillance cameras during large events. So I asked Sgt. Dale Weidman, the lead investigator in the riot probe, about the citys cameras. They played a role, Weidman said. As you know, we received video from a myriad of different sources, both private citizens and closed circuit television and from businesses. So they played a role.
Was it a significant role?
No, it wasnt hugely significant.
Top of the cops
Police Chief Jim Chu may want to ask for a raise.
Or, maybe he already has. I mention this after hearing what Mayor Gregor Robertson had to say about the chief during a mayoral debate with NPA candidate Suzanne Anton at the SFU campus at the Woodwards building Oct. 25. We have one of the topif not the top police chief in the country, possibly even the world, Robertson said while talking about the Stanley Cup riot. Thats right possibly even the world.
Robertson is chairperson of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Board, the oversight body that hired Chu in 2007 to replace Jamie Graham, who is now chief in Victoria.
Robertson, however, was not on the board when Chu was hired; that was NPA mayor Sam Sullivan. But it was the Robertson-led board that granted Chu a contract extension until August 2015.
Chu earned more than $300,000 last year, according to the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Department.
Robertson will find out whether hes the best mayor in the city when voters go to the polls Nov. 19 and choose whether they want him around for another three years.
Raffis world
How about a vote for possibly the worlds best childrens entertainer?
How about Mr. Baby Beluga himself?
In case you missed my blog post last week, I mentioned that Raffi Cavoukian, the legendary childrens performer, recently toured the Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»protest site outside the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery.
Wondering whether he supports Mayor Gregor Robertsons just-give-it-some-time approach to the protest?
Or do you think his thinking is more in line with NPA mayoral candidate Suzanne Antons one-weeks-notice-and-youre-gone approach? I dont know.
But I do know that some guy named Raffi Cavoukian donated $5,000 or greater to Robertson when he ran successfully in 2008 against Vision Coun. Raymond Louie for the right to lead Vision in the previous election.
Twitter: @Howellings
