Pubdate: Wed, 29 Apr 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Lori Culbert
Page: A1

POLICE, POT AND POLITICS: JIM CHU ON HIS 36 YEARS AS A VANCOUVER COP

As politicians Tuesday debated proposed regulations for illegal
marijuana dispensaries, Vancouver's outgoing police chief defended his
agency's hands off approach to the burgeoning industry.

"It's not that we support the dispensaries, it's that we have other
priorities," Vancouver police Chief Jim Chu told The Sun.

"I can give you a long list of investigations with potential outcomes
that could harm the public, ranging from gun violence to other
organized criminal behaviours. So I'm reluctant to pull investigators
off of those criminal cases and say, 'OK, go work on this dispensary.'
"

With Chu as its president, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of
Police urged the federal government to allow ticketing for possession
of small amounts of pot instead of laying criminal charges.

"An occasional colleague has looked at me and said, 'You are from the
Left Coast.' I don't think there was unanimity among the police chiefs
about the ticketing for marijuana possession," Chu said with a
chuckle. "That was a good debate among my fellow police chiefs."

In his final few weeks on the job - after 36 years with Vancouver
police, eight of them as chief - Chu discussed his pivotal years as
the city's top cop in an exclusive interview with The Sun. The
discussion ranged from his best days to the low point of the 2011
Stanley Cup riot and his potential future as a politician. His
successor, deputy chief Adam Palmer, will be sworn in May 25.

There is speculation Chu is retiring before his contract expires in
2017 so he can run in this year's federal election. It has been a
popular move lately. Rick Hanson stepped down as Calgary's police
chief in March to run for a provincial Conservative seat. Bill Blair
announced on the weekend he would run for the federal Liberals, right
after retiring as Toronto's police chief.

Chu said it is "unlikely" his name will be on the ballot this fall,
but confirmed he has been courted by more than one party and didn't
rule out pursuing politics in his future.

"There is no immediate plans for doing anything. So the likelihood of
me running federally is - I don't think it's there," he said.

"I'll take a little bit of time off. That's a promise I made to my
wife. And then I'll re-evaluate what I do next. You are not going to
see me doing what Bill Blair did, which is the day after you leave
announce that you are running."

Former Toronto police chief Julian Fantino was elected to the federal
Conservatives in 2010.

"When a chief leaves, because of name recognition, maybe the parties
think they are a desirable candidate. For me personally, I'm flattered
that I've been asked. I will tell you it's not just one party, so I
think that's good because it didn't look like I was biased toward one
ideology as police chief," Chu said.

When asked about his legacy, Chu said he is proud of the drop in
violent crime under his watch, especially the reduction in homicides
and gang activity.

But he'll be remembered by many - friends and foes - for mending ties
with some of Vancouver's most vulnerable people. Under Chu, for
example, the VPD apologized to families of the missing women for
bungling the Robert Pickton serial killer investigation, then adopted
groundbreaking sex trade enforcement guidelines and work to keep women
safe through SisterWatch.

"We have made mistakes, and when we make mistakes it is important to
own up to it right away, and work with people and say, 'What can we do
to make sure this does not happen again?' " he said.

Chu, along with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, lobbied for better
services for mentally ill people in the Downtown Eastside, often
complaining police officers should not be first responders to
health-related emergencies.

While some advocates, such as the Pivot Legal Society, commend Chu for
building better relations with service providers, there are still
negative interactions with police.

Paul Boyd, a mentally ill animator, was armed with a bicycle chain
when he was shot by police in 2007. While critics complain Boyd didn't
need to be fatally wounded, the police officer involved was cleared of
wrongdoing. Chu supports the officer, saying he made a tough decision
in the heat of the moment, not in a sterile room with time for
self-reflection.

"The officer had to make a split-second decision. And, you know, that
officer is a victim as well. He has to live with that for the rest of
his life," he said. "When you are there on the streets, the test is:
did the officer, he or she, act reasonably? The test isn't: you must
be perfect every time. We are hiring human beings."

Last November, Vancouver police fatally shot Tony Du, a schizophrenic
armed with a long piece of wood. That case is still under
investigation, so Chu would not discuss the details.

When asked, though, if it could set back the improved relations he had
built with the mental health community, Chu said no.

"I use this analogy of the Vancouver police officers I work with: We
are all working our way up that mountain tied together with a rope,
and we could be working so hard to get up there and it only takes one
officer to stumble and fall and drag others with him," he said.

"These are high-profile incidents, and unfortunately it may affect the
perception of some people, but I think overall because of the work
police officers do every day helping people, the billions of contacts,
that's what builds up the goodwill."

Chu has a beautiful view from the top floor of the Cambie Street
police station, but he hasn't overseen policing in Vancouver from an
ivory tower. He lunched with the homeless at the Carnegie Centre and
marched in the annual missing women memorial walk, all to rebuild
trust in police.

"We will do anything we can to show them that, marginalized or not, we
care about violence against women," the personable chief said.

"I believe the trust has increased. I still think there's a way to go,
so we shouldn't rest on our laurels. We should continue."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt