With the 10th anniversary of 麻豆传媒映画hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics upon us, we are looking back at some of the stories that were making the news in the Courier during those 17 days in February.
This story was originally published Feb. 26, 2010
A total of four complaints from the public have been lodged against police of铿乧ers working in 麻豆传媒映画during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Three were lodged against the RCMP and one against the 麻豆传媒映画Police Department since the Games began Feb. 12. None of the complaints involved police using excessive force, as many Olympic watchdog groups worried would happen.
鈥淚鈥檓 relieved to hear that, and certainly we鈥檝e been relieved to see that the worst excesses we were worried about haven鈥檛 come to pass,鈥� said David Eby, executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. 鈥淲e think that they鈥檝e been remarkably restrained.鈥� The Commission for Complaints
Against the RCMP received a complaint after a person said his car was damaged by an of铿乧er during a vehicle check at an Olympic venue. A second complaint was lodged from a person having his security clearance denied to work at an Olympic venue. A third complaint against the RCMP involved an allegation of neglect of duty related to traf铿乧 control at an Olympic venue.
鈥淲e were prepared for more [complaints],鈥� said Kate McDerby of the RCMP complaints commission. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 just one of those things we don鈥檛 know because without the information from people planning to engage with police 鈥� let alone the incidental instances 鈥� it was really dif铿乧ult to tell.鈥�
VPD of铿乧ers clashed with protesters on the opening night of the Games and the next morning when vandals smashed store windows, damaged cars and overturned newspaper boxes. Police were spat on, assaulted with traf铿乧 pylons and sticks and had vinegar and condoms 铿乴led with paint thrown at them. As of Wednesday, the only complaint against the VPD involved a woman upset with an of铿乧er posted to the Canadian Mint.
The of铿乧er asked the woman and her family to leave the Mint because it was closing for the day, according to Const. Lindsey Houghton of the VPD.
鈥淚t should be of no surprise to anyone that we have very professional of铿乧ers who take their jobs seriously and really enjoy what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� he said, noting VPD of铿乧ers have had 鈥渉undreds of thousands鈥� of positive interactions with the public since the Games began.
Some 6,000 of铿乧ers from 118 departments in Canada comprise the 2010 Integrated Security Unit. The majority are RCMP of铿乧ers working at Olympic venues. The VPD, which has senior of铿乧ers working as commanders at venues, is responsible for policing the protests and criminal investigations.
Though no public complaints were lodged against police for excessive force, seven ISU of铿乧ers have been relieved of their Olympic duties. Three of the seven of铿乧ers are facing criminal investigations.
The VPD is investigating two of the of铿乧ers but will not give details. A third of铿乧er, RCMP Staff Sgt. Suzanne Denise Marie Martel, has been charged with theft under $5,000. Martel allegedly shoplifted from a retail store in Burnaby while she was off duty.
Sgt. Rich Graydon of the ISU would only say the four other of铿乧ers relieved of their duties were let go for disciplinary reasons.
The B.C. Of铿乧e of the Police Complaint Commissioner is following up on an incident involving an of铿乧er residing aboard the ship designated for ISU members. Deputy complaint commissioner Bruce Brown said a chamber maid discovered an of铿乧er鈥檚 gun unlocked in his room while the of铿乧er was having breakfast in another part of the ship.
