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CTV News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Vancouver Police Board learned about ‘Task Force Barrage' through mayor's announcement, chair says
The oversight body was unaware of a $5 million crime crackdown on the Downtown Eastside before it was announced at a press conference, the chair confirmed. An oversight body whose role it is to develop the Vancouver Police Department's budget, wasn't part of the approval process for a multi-million dollar initiative aimed at targeting crime on the Downtown Eastside. Frank Chong, the chair of the Vancouver Police Board, said the board learned about the $5 million dollar plan, named 'Task Force Barrage,' through Mayor Ken Sim's press conference with then-chief Adam Palmer in February. 'That was a notification that we found out at during the media announcement,' Chong said. 'And I think that what transpired was that there was a miscommunication and perhaps, some missteps with regards to process.' Chong said the board is working on rectifying what transpired. 'That was determined by the finance committee that there is a need for sharpening of that particular process, which will be discussed at our governance committee,' he added. Police Act The mayor's announcement, came after the city's budget was finalized. As outlined in the B.C. Police Act, the Vancouver Police Board is required to prepare and approve the provisional budget for the following year on an annual basis. Any changes to this budget, per the act, must be submitted to council on or before March 1 of the year to which the provisional budget relates. Chong believes the board did not breach the legislation. Mayor's response Typically, the approval process for an initiative such as Task Force Barrage involves city council sending a request to the police board, which would then discuss the financial implications. From there, if board members agreed they were wiling to adjust the budget, they would then give approval to the Vancouver Police Department. CTV News asked Sim in May, why a funding request or proposal was not sent to the police board for approval before the task force was launched. At the time, Sim said he didn't know. 'Look, I can't comment on what people know and didn't know,' he said. 'You're asking me to comment on what six other individuals knew. I'm not in their mind.' Critics such as Green Coun. Pete Fry and former board vice-chair Faye Wightman have questioned how Task Force Barrage was approved. Both have pointed to the lack of a paper trail and called it a backroom deal.
Global News
25-04-2025
- Global News
Report on claim of VPD arrest quota coming in June
The Vancouver Police Board says a 'full report' into a complaint about political motivations and arrest quotas for a crack down on crime in the Downtown Eastside will be delivered in June. Director Allan Black has told a board meeting the complaint centred on the Vancouver Police Department's 'recent expectation of setting arrest quotas,' and the report into the complaint will be delivered by the board's next meeting on June 19. Agenda materials for the meeting on Thursday included a heavily redacted email to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner from an anonymous whistleblower purporting to be a disenchanted Vancouver police officer. Related Videos 0:31 VPD investigate disturbing break and enter VPD investigate disturbing break and enter Woman accused of stealing VPD car Previous Video Next Video Story continues below advertisement The complaint from last month says the department arbitrarily set arrest quotas as part of Mayor Ken Sim's 'Task Force Barrage,' an initiative in the Downtown Eastside to crack down on drug-related and other violence and crime. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Outgoing Police Chief Adam Palmer told the meeting the task force's work has led to large decreases in break-ins and robberies and violent crimes, which he called 'incredible results' in reducing crime in the community. Palmer says that there's recently been a 25 per cent increase in assaults on officers, including high-profile cases of a slashing attack and another where an officer was set on fire. 'We're really happy with the results even though we have had some adversity with officers assaulted,' Palmer said. 'The people that aren't happy are the drug dealers, the chronic offenders, the organized crime members, the people who are causing hazards and grief and just violence toward people down in the Downtown Eastside, they're not happy at all.'
Hamilton Spectator
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Police Board says report on complaint of arrest quotas coming in June
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Police Board says a 'full report' into a complaint about political motivations and arrest quotas for a crack down on crime in the Downtown Eastside will be delivered in June. Director Allan Black has told a board meeting the complaint centred on the Vancouver Police Department's 'recent expectation of setting arrest quotas,' and the report into the complaint will be delivered by the board's next meeting on June 19. Agenda materials for the meeting on Thursday included a heavily redacted email to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner from an anonymous whistleblower purporting to be a disenchanted Vancouver police officer. The complaint from last month says the department arbitrarily set arrest quotas as part of Mayor Ken Sim's 'Task Force Barrage,' an initiative in the Downtown Eastside to crack down on drug-related and other violence and crime. Outgoing Police Chief Adam Palmer told the meeting the task force's work has led to large decreases in break-ins and robberies and violent crimes, which he called 'incredible results' in reducing crime in the community. Palmer says that there's recently been a 25 per cent increase in assaults on officers, including high-profile cases of a slashing attack and another where an officer was set on fire. 'We're really happy with the results even though we have had some adversity with officers assaulted,' Palmer said. 'The people that aren't happy are the drug dealers, the chronic offenders, the organized crime members, the people who are causing hazards and grief and just violence toward people down in the Downtown Eastside, they're not happy at all.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
Toronto Star
24-04-2025
- Toronto Star
Vancouver Police Board says report on complaint of arrest quotas coming in June
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Police Board says a 'full report' into a complaint about political motivations and arrest quotas for a crack down on crime in the Downtown Eastside will be delivered in June. Director Allan Black has told a board meeting the complaint centred on the Vancouver Police Department's 'recent expectation of setting arrest quotas,' and the report into the complaint will be delivered by the board's next meeting on June 19. Agenda materials for the meeting on Thursday included a heavily redacted email to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner from an anonymous whistleblower purporting to be a disenchanted Vancouver police officer. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The complaint from last month says the department arbitrarily set arrest quotas as part of Mayor Ken Sim's 'Task Force Barrage,' an initiative in the Downtown Eastside to crack down on drug-related and other violence and crime. Outgoing Police Chief Adam Palmer told the meeting the task force's work has led to large decreases in break-ins and robberies and violent crimes, which he called 'incredible results' in reducing crime in the community. Palmer says that there's recently been a 25 per cent increase in assaults on officers, including high-profile cases of a slashing attack and another where an officer was set on fire. 'We're really happy with the results even though we have had some adversity with officers assaulted,' Palmer said. 'The people that aren't happy are the drug dealers, the chronic offenders, the organized crime members, the people who are causing hazards and grief and just violence toward people down in the Downtown Eastside, they're not happy at all.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Police Board says report on complaint of arrest quotas coming in June
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Police Board says a 'full report' into a complaint about political motivations and arrest quotas for a crack down on crime in the Downtown Eastside will be delivered in June. Director Allan Black has told a board meeting the complaint centred on the Vancouver Police Department's 'recent expectation of setting arrest quotas,' and the report into the complaint will be delivered by the board's next meeting on June 19. Agenda materials for the meeting on Thursday included a heavily redacted email to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner from an anonymous whistleblower purporting to be a disenchanted Vancouver police officer. The complaint from last month says the department arbitrarily set arrest quotas as part of Mayor Ken Sim's 'Task Force Barrage,' an initiative in the Downtown Eastside to crack down on drug-related and other violence and crime. Outgoing Police Chief Adam Palmer told the meeting the task force's work has led to large decreases in break-ins and robberies and violent crimes, which he called 'incredible results' in reducing crime in the community. Palmer says that there's recently been a 25 per cent increase in assaults on officers, including high-profile cases of a slashing attack and another where an officer was set on fire. 'We're really happy with the results even though we have had some adversity with officers assaulted,' Palmer said. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'The people that aren't happy are the drug dealers, the chronic offenders, the organized crime members, the people who are causing hazards and grief and just violence toward people down in the Downtown Eastside, they're not happy at all.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
