[news] PIVOT says officer acted unlawfully

[resist]

 Vancouver.cbc.ca

VANCOUVER - The PIVOT Legal Society has filed a complaint with B.C.'s
Police Complaints Commission over a police officer's unilateral decision
to change the locks on an "unauthorized" safe injection site earlier
this month.

The lawyers' group said the action was illegal, but the Vancouver Police
Service is standing by its officer, saying if anything, his actions –
motivated by a concern about drug trafficking in the area – have sped up
the inevitable closing of the site.

Volunteers at the site announced Tuesday they were closing their doors.

The situation began two weeks ago when a Vancouver police sergeant
changed the locks on the doors at 327 Carrall Street – the injection
site's location.

PIVOT founder John Richardson said a routine internal investigation
isn't enough to get to the bottom of the matter.

"We have no faith in the ability of the Vancouver police department to
police themselves," he said, adding, "and in this case specifically they
clearly lack objectivity and they shouldn't be the ones that are called
upon to evaluate the lawfulness of those actions."

Richardson said an external investigation is needed because the
department has already stated it supports the officer's actions.

"We fully support the actions of the officer and we believe that he
acted in the best interest of the community and the best interests of
the police department," said police spokesperson Sarah Bloor.

PIVOT has been aggressive about holding police to account.

In late October of last year, it called for a public inquiry into police
actions in the Downtown Eastside, saying it had claimed affidavits from
50 people who claimed to be the victims of police misconduct.

In response, the police said if force was used in an arrest, it was
usually reasonable and warranted.

PIVOT launched formal complaints with the B.C. Police Complaints
Commission in June. The RCMP announced in July it would be investigating
them.