Policing: June 2008 Archives

From The Globe and Mail

BEARCAT
Vancouver police to get armour on wheels

ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY

June 25, 2008

The Vancouver Police Department is beefing up its fleet, and the new machine's no puny gizmo: The city has approved $345,000 for an armoured rescue vehicle that will act as a mobile ballistic shield.

Inspector Tony Zanatta of the Vancouver police emergency response team says the armoured car will let officers go where they couldn't go safely before. They will be able to approach armed suspects with vehicles and barricaded in houses, deal with bomb scares and transport wounded people out of dangerous situations without fear of being shot.

"It's not a tank, it's a tool. It's simply that. It's a shield, it's a ballistic shield that's mobile," he said.

Some police forces in U.S. cities - including Los Angeles and New York - use Lenco "BearCat" armoured vehicles, one of the options Vancouver is considering.

VPD veteran says province must renovate 18 single-room occupancy hotels
 
Mike Howell
Vancouver Courier

Wednesday, June 25, 2008


CREDIT: Photo-Dan Toulgoet
Makeshift shelters, including Mark Tobiasson's lean-to in Oppenheimer Park, populate the Downtown Eastside.

A senior Vancouver police officer says homelessness in the Downtown Eastside is the worst he's seen in his 23 years on the job.

Supt. Warren Lemcke, commander for the north part of the city, said the dire situation won't change until the provincial government renovates the 18 single-room occupancy hotels it purchased over the last year.