Vancouver police officers cleared of wrongdoing in beating case wrongdoing, police, case, Vancouver, beating

Lik

http://www.vancouversun.com/news ... /3771221/story.html

Vancouver police officers cleared of wrongdoing in beating case
By CHAD SKELTON, VANCOUVER SUN November 3, 2010 10:32 AM

VANCOUVER - Two Vancouver police officers who allegedly beat a man outside his own home after responding to the wrong address have been cleared of wrongdoing, according to the beaten man's lawyer.

"I think the decision was ridiculous and the whole investigative process, lasting more than nine months, was a farce," said Cameron Ward, who represents Yao Wei Wu, 44. "It indicates clearly why police should not be investigating other police officers."

Wu, who does not speak English, suffered serious injuries when he was beaten outside his home on Jan. 21 by two Vancouver officers.

Vancouver police initially said Wu resisted arrest, but Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu later apologized to Wu after it was determined the call to police had originated from the home's basement suite and police had knocked at the wrong door.

Shortly after the incident, Chu handed the investigation over to Delta police, who completed their investigation on Oct. 20.

That gave Delta Police Chief Jim Cessford 10 business days to determine what, if any, discipline the officers should receive.

Cessford is scheduled to release his decision at a news conference at 1:30 p.m. today.

But Ward, who has seen the investigative report, said in an interview this morning that it concluded the officers did nothing wrong.

"Basically the police investigation found that the complaint was unsubstantiated and the force used was reasonable and appropriate," said Ward.

Ward said the investigation report shows that while his client was interviewed by police for more than an hour and a half the day after the beating and for another hour and a half at a later date, Delta police didn't get around to interviewing the two officers involved — Nicholas Florkow and Bryan London — until May 12, nearly four months later.

According to Ward, the interviews with Florkow and London, held in the presence of Vancouver Police Union president Tom Stamatakis, lasted just 51 and 37 minutes respectively.

Wu is expected to comment on Cessford's decision at a news conference in Burnaby this morning.

Wu's encounter with police left him bloodied and with an eye swollen shut.

A lawsuit Wu filed against Florkow and London alleges he has been unable to resume work at his flooring job due to blurry vision and an aching body, and that a doctor has advised his wife, Nan Man Chi, she should stay home from her restaurant job because of emotional distress.

Wu's allegations have not been proven in court.

Delta's investigation into the incident was originally due in early July.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner granted the department a two-month extension until Sept. 18 and then another extension to Oct. 23.

Ward has previously criticized the delays in the case, calling them "ridiculous and unacceptable".

Wu can ask the Commissioner to review Delta's decision.

The Commissioner's office also has the power to hold a public hearing into the case if they feel one is needed.

[email protected]

Lik

有無搞@#)$(@#)$(@錯？！

-力

Lik

I urge you to write to the Delta Police Force and VPD as I did:

Chief Constable Cessford and Chief Chu,

I am writing to express my anger and complete disappointment in both the Delta Police Force and the VPD in their investigation of the Yao Wei Wu beating incident. Originally, I am so offended that I was going to write you a lengthy and scathing email to scold every possible aspect of the case. But after a bit of thinking, I have decided to simply ask you one very simple question:

If the same police officers showed up one early morning in the same manner as they did on January 21 and beat the crap out of either of you, or any of your family members, are you going to be ok with that as well?

Apparently, given the results of the investigation report, both Chief Cessford and Chief Chu would have cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, even when the victims were yourselves or your own family members.

In closing, I want to leave you with another burning question that I have in my head -- in your opinion, do you think the police force, and in particular the VPD, the Delta Police Force, the WVPD, the NWPD, and the RCMP, deserve any kind of respect from common citizens such as myself when utterly ridiculous scandals such as this (and many others, such as the Robert Dziekanski tragedy, the drunken officers Gillan and Klassen beating on Khan, etc.) continues to recur?

I would very much like to hear both of your honest answers, if there is still any trace of honesty and integrity left in either of you.

Ah Lik
Vancouver, BC

VPD: [email protected]
Office of the Delta Chief Constable: [email protected]

Lik

I don't expect any response at all from either police department, much less from the police chiefs themselves. The point of my letter was to simply let them know of how much anger there is among the general public on this matter. And should there be enough anger and discontent on this matter in the same way the HST has generated, then the police departments will have to make some changes.

Actually, seeing how Gordo Campbell has resigned today is a very good example of seeing how people power came into action. When I first wrote my scathing letter to Gordo, Colin Hansen, and the Liberals about how ridiculous the execution and implementation of the HST was, my line of reasoning was exactly the same -- my letter alone wouldn't have meant or amounted to anything. But if enough people were angry about what is happening, then something will be done. The authorities (be it the government or police) would have to respond.

This is why I continue to believe in democracy. And this is why I continue to believe in power of the people. As citizens, our future is what we make of it.

-Lik