The Vancouver Police Department has decided it will no longer refrain from talking publicly about cases in which it is being sued for alleged wrongdoing.
The decision, which got buried in the recent media coverage of a police dog bite victim, means the VPD has changed its strategy in defending itself in public.
Historically, the VPD's response to reporters enquiring about a civil case has been a statement that it will not comment because the matter is before the courts.
"We have sometimes been criticized for taking this position," said Deputy Chief Adam Palmer at a press conference held Jan. 30 at the VPD's Cambie Street station. "There are those in the media who argue this is unnecessary and we simply use the phrase to avoid commenting. There are also those who argue we should answer those publicly who make allegations against us publicly. We hear you and we have decided to judge each case in the future accordingly."
Palmer revealed the VPD's change in policy while commenting on the case of Christopher Evans, who is suing the police for damages done by a police dog. Evans, a 33year-old construction worker, was badly bitten by a police dog June 12, 2011 after he repeatedly bashed a transit bus with his skateboard.
The media coverage showed Evans' deep wounds in his right thigh and calf. The VPD's initial response was not to comment on the case but it decided five days later to show a video of Evans' violent outburst, which was recorded from a camera inside the bus. Police also released an audio recording of a 911 call from a transit supervisor.
Palmer said details of the Evans case, which included the police investigation of the incident, were released in the interest of balance and to provide context. The VPD also released two classified reports on the department's "bite and hold" use of force method used by the dog squad.
The Evans case, which the Courier covered in detail in a Feb. 3 cover story, was overseen by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, which dismissed Evans' complaint.
Pivot Legal Society lawyer Douglas King, acting on behalf of Evans, questioned the timing of the VPD's new policy with civil suits and how it relates to the Evans case. King said the VPD had several days to comment on his client's case but chose not to until last Monday.
"It's a little deceiving to say it's a one-sided story when they had the opportunity [the week before] to comment and chose not to," said King
King said he's also reviewing whether the VPD's public release of the TransLink video and audio tape of the 911 call is in violation of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.
No date has been set for Evans' civil suit.
In December 2010, the Courier published a story revealing the city paid out almost $9 million in the past decade to people who sued the city for a variety of incidents, including injuries suffered during arrests by police.
Settlements involving the VPD accounted for 68 claims, including 21 paid out in 2007, seven each in 2001 and 2008 and two in 2010.
The city, however, declined to break down the worth of each claim or provide detailed descriptions of the incidents, as requested by the Courier.
[email protected] Twitter: @Howellings
