3334 replies to this topic

[pontcanna]

Family, friends searching for answers a year after killing of Jared Lowndes

Jared Lowndes was shot and killed during a conflict with police

July 9, 2022, Times-Colonist

 

The family and friends of a 38-year-old Wet’suwet’en father who was shot and killed by Campbell River RCMP one year ago are still waiting for answers.

At a memorial march held in Jared Lowndes’s honour Friday morning in Campbell River, Lowndes’ mother Laura Holland was joined by Martha Martin, the mother of Chantel Moore and Michael Martin.

Supporters of the #JusticeForJared march want to bring attention to ongoing violence perpetrated by the RCMP, says the statement.

“We can no longer allow the killing of Indigenous, Black, and other community members and claim it is authorized by public interest, public safety, or the public purse,” it said.

In December 2020, Lowndes was convicted in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver of two firearms offences dating to April 2013. He was convicted of possessing a restricted firearm with ammunition and contravening a regulation regarding storage or transportation of a firearm and restricted weapons.

Lowndes’ mother has called for an inquest and continues to call for an external investigation into the conduct of the RCMP.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is also investigating Lowndes’ death, as well as another police-involved shooting at the Discovery Harbour Authority in Campbell River in June and a fatal incident following a theft at a local business in April.

After Lowndes’ death, the RCMP issued two statements — one about the police dog’s service and another thanking the Campbell River community for its support in the wake of the dog’s death. That weekend, residents came out to watch an RCMP procession in honour of the dog, called Gator.

 

 

More: https://www.timescol...lowndes-5565621

 

[pontcanna]

Nanaimo looks at how to combat gun, gang violence with funding

• Times Colonist
• 9 Jul 2022

The City of Nanaimo plans to hire a consultant to help map out a plan for how to use $1.85 million in federal funding to combat gun and gang violence.

 

A strategic plan outlining activities and outcomes over the next four years is one of the requirements of receiving the money under the federal Building Safer Communities Fund.

 

“I think it would be foolish to say no to this because we have a bit of an issue in the community with violence,” Coun. Jim Turley said.

 

The $250-million community safety fund was announced in May by the federal government, which recently notified Nanaimo that it was in line for $1.85 million.

 

Funding parameters allow for a variety of projects, she said. The money is being directed specifically at municipalities and not law-enforcement agencies. Nanaimo would work in partnership with the RCMP, the Snuneymuxw First Nation and non-profit organizations as it develops the plan, which would include pilot projects.

 

“We have a great partnership with the RCMP and other entities that we know are interested in working with us and looking at this as a preventative and resiliency-building opportunity,” Bhopalsingh said.

 

More: https://www.timescol...funding-5565622

 

 

[Mike K.]

Vancouver Island has an issue with violence, period. The towns are all suffering as the law finds it harder to do its job, and government sanctioned misbehaviour is now par for the course.

Take a look at York Street next time you’re in Duncan. BC Housing opened a shelter there, and a safe injection site is now there, too. The scene on the streets in that area is like a mini Pandora, which is a mini DTES. The businesses are frustrated, the public is alarmed, the tourists are put off, and officialdom looks the other day. A family from Portland (Portland!) that we ran into at an event in the valley were bewildered how little Duncan could have a zone that looks like this:



It’s the BC Way, is the only thing I could say to them.

[Victoria Watcher]

There’s no accountability. Whoever put all that crap there should not receive “wraparound” supports until it’s cleaned up. But we’ve moved beyond that.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 July 2022 - 09:06 AM.

[Nparker]

...It’s the BC Way, is the only thing I could say to them.

#wokeisbroke

[Mike K.]

Google Maps now shows “busy areas” where there’s a lot of activity and foot traffic. The only such area for the entire Duncan region is York Street. Not the shopping centres and downtown Duncan, but little York Street.

[Mike K.]

[Beef Suet]

Long time lurker, first time poster here. Found this fairly well-made metal plaque on Quadra Street. It’s very firmly affixed. 

 

[pontcanna]

Demonstrators mark one year since Indigenous man’s death in protest at Campbell River RCMP detachment

July 11, 2022
 

Jared Lowndes was shot and killed by Campbell River police on July 8, 2021

Friday marked one year since the death of Jared Lowndes, an Indigenous man shot dead by police following an incident outside a Campbell River coffee shop.

To mark the anniversary, dozens of #JusticeForJared protesters gathered and marched from the scene of the incident to the Campbell River RCMP detachment, with a final stop at the Homalco Cultural Centre.

With an investigation by the Independent Investigation Office (IIO) still underway, around 40 people and 10 vehicles took to the streets last Friday in support of Lowndes, blocking various intersections along the way, according to Campbell River RCMP.

In a Facebook post, the group says it’s calling for police to be defunded, dismantled and abolished, an end to “gatekeeping” by the IIO and an immediate halt to the “use and abuse of police dogs.”

Once at the detachment, police say protesters placed large six-foot signs at the front door as “loudhailers were used to express displeasures” and “derogatory comments were directed toward police and staff.”

Profanities were also allegedly painted across the parking lot, as well as graphic imagery at the door, according to RCMP, who say “several people” felt unsafe approaching the detachment.

Campbell River RCMP says it’s investigating any criminal aspects of the demonstration and asks anyone with video, photos or information to call 250-286-6221. To remain anonymous, tipsters can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

 

More: https://www.cheknews...chment-1059635/

 

[Mike K.]

Long time lurker, first time poster here. Found this fairly well-made metal plaque on Quadra Street. It’s very firmly affixed.

1571FB31-77A0-4E27-9B34-7C89E8A2D360.jpeg B8366452-3FCA-4122-A38E-2DDA8CCF9811.jpeg

Good find.

We’ve put this up on the Facebook page, hopefully the City responds and does the right thing.

[Nparker]

...hopefully the City responds and does the right thing.

Based on the actions of Victoria council over the past 4 years, the "right thing" will likely involve locating the perp and giving them a special monetary award from the Mayor's office.

[Barrrister]

Perhaps someone would be kind enough to take a hand slug hammer to it. 

[pontcanna]

A hard hit in the wrong spot can cause death

Times Colonist - 12 Jul 2022
 

As a retired police officer, I was surprised to see the use of the term “nonlethal” to describe the kinetic impact projectiles used recently to subdue the knife-waving suspect on Cook Street.

The projectiles, usually fired from a shotgun or some other purpose-built launcher, are relatively slow and have high mass compared to bullets or shotgun slugs and are made of non-metallic materials such as plastic or rubber.

They are not designed to penetrate the body, but rather to create an impact of such magnitude as to stun or otherwise render the person incapable of further violent action.

Sadly, though, these rounds can cause fatal blunt-force trauma and are now referred to as “less lethal” munitions; any time you hit a person with anything hard enough or in the wrong place, there is the possibility of causing death.

I don’t know about the Saanich police policy, but where I come from, less-lethal munitions are highly controlled devices used by trained operators and only deployed in the appropriate situations under the direction of the scene commander.

Len Dafoe, Nanoose Bay

[Mike K.]

He wasn’t waving a knife, he put it to his throat and started cutting. If the officers had to wait for a “commander” the guy would be dead.

[pontcanna]

Our History | Remembering Fallen VicPD Constable Earle Michael Doyle

Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Victoria, BC – Today, our officers and staff are remembering fallen VicPD Constable Earle Michael Doyle.

At approximately 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 12th, 1959, VicPD Cst. Earle Michael Doyle was riding his police motorcycle northbound in the 3100-block of Douglas Street when driver turned in front of him. He was thrown from his motorcycle and, despite wearing a motorcycle helmet that had been issued two weeks earlier, Cst. Doyle suffered life-threatening injuries. His new helmet appeared to have come unlatched during the collision.

Cst. Doyle succumbed to his injuries in hospital the next day, July 13 th, 1959. He was 28 years-old and left behind his wife Grace and his young family of three children, Shannon, Kathleen and Kevin.

 

Grateful citizens of Victoria lined Quadra Street for his funeral procession a week later. The procession went past Quadra Street at Caledonia Avenue, which became the location of VicPD Headquarters 37 years later

VicPD and RCMP officers lead Cst. Earle Doyle’s funeral procession down Quadra Street. The Victoria Curling Club, now next door to VicPD’s 850 Caledonia Avenue Headquarters is in the background.

Today, we remember fallen VicPD Cst. Earle Michael Doyle.

[pontcanna]

Oops.

 

Edited by pontcanna, 18 July 2022 - 09:39 AM.

[pontcanna]

Why Critics Slammed a Police Viral Video of Young People

Victoria police say they were informing the public. Others say the messages did damage.

Emily Fagan - TheTyee.ca

 

Victoria police shot video while surprising a gathering of youth the department said were drinking and shared it with warnings to the public.

In late May, the Victoria Police Department went viral.

The department posted a video to its Twitter account. Viewed more than 178,000 times, it shows a group of young people on Victoria’s Dallas Road waterfront path.

“Here’s what it looks like as we approach a group of youths who are drinking,” reads the tweet.

There are about 30 young people in the video. Many run as a group of uniformed officers approach them.

The video is part of a string of tweets, news releases and public comments from the police department that critics say sends damaging messages about youth.

As teens emerged from pandemic restrictions and onto downtown streets this spring and summer, there have been reports of underage drinking, vandalism and violence.

But some residents and academics say depicting all of these instances together — and on such a public platform — is unfair.

 

More: https://thetyee.ca/N...o-Young-People/

 

[Mike K.]

"Slammed" is now the go-to word for objecting to something? A physical assault, in other words? Critics were so upset, they literally assaulted the police?

[todd]

Ironically it’s probably the Internet(video games, social media) why kids are so deranged today


That being said my wet-grad we bused over the Malahat somebody lost a tooth and part of their vision by the next day

Edited by todd, 18 July 2022 - 02:13 PM.

[Spy Black]

Other than being under-age, were these kids doing anything whatsoever that could be considered "criminal" (or even "offensive")?

 

With everything that's going on in the downtown core today, and with the apparent massive shortfall of available Officers to staff the cities critical law enforcement needs, you'd really think VidPD might rethink actions other than video taping themselves going after a bunch of kids, apparently only so they could then post that interaction on the internet?

 

VicPD desperately needs new management.