POLICE REVIEW OF HIS AID FOR ADDICT 'APPROPRIATE': MAYOR

Sullivan Says He Intends To Work Closely With Vancouver Chief Jamie Graham

VANCOUVER - Mayor Sam Sullivan said Wednesday he thinks it was
"appropriate" for the city's chief of police to request a review of
his widely reported encounters with a drug addict.

And Sullivan said he looks forward to developing a close working
relationship with the chief in his own new role as chairman of the
city's police board.

"I think we have a very good relationship," Sullivan said of Chief
Jamie Graham during a break at Wednesday's police board meeting.

"I consider him a professional and very good at his job, and I want
to establish that kind of a relationship and that kind respect from
him as well," he said, as Graham listened at his side.

Wednesday afternoon's meeting was Sullivan's first as chairman and
comes not long after Graham asked the RCMP to determine if Sullivan
should be investigated and potentially charged with a criminal offence.

Graham asked the RCMP to review Sullivan's actions after hearing
Sullivan say that, on at least one occasion, he drove an addict to a
Downtown Eastside location to buy drugs and to smoke crack in his van.

Sullivan said Wednesday he thinks the review request was appropriate
because the issue was raised during the recent municipal election campaign.

"My opponents chose to make some incidents I'd been involved with a
central part of the campaign and it was well discussed in the public," he said.

"When that is brought up in such a public way, I think it's important
for the chief to respond."

During the campaign, Sullivan also created potential friction with
the department when he said the VPD should implement internal
efficiencies before it receives more funds to hire new officers.

However, Graham said Wednesday he is confident with having Sullivan
at the head of the board, and looks forward to working with him in future.

"It is absolutely critical that the police department work as
absolutely close with him as possible and provide him as much
information as he could possibly want," Graham said.

"That's what we're committed to do," he added, pointing out he thinks
Sullivan has "hit the ground rolling" and that the board is
"positioned very well for the future."

Asked about the impact of the review, Graham said those answers will
have to wait until the RCMP has finished its work.

Also during the police board meeting on Wednesday, deputy chief Doug
LePard raised concerns over guns in the city, saying Vancouver police
have already seized 215 handguns in 2005.

That compares to 150 handguns three years ago, he said.

"It does seem to be an increasing problem where young men that were
interested in having a fancy car or a fancy cellphone or fancy
electronics, now think it's important, to be fully dressed, to have a
handgun," LePard told the board.

"Young men, hormones, alcohol, bravado, confrontation, being in
possession of a handgun -- that's a deadly combination," he added,
suggesting there is a need to ensure proper sentencing for gun crimes.

Some people speaking to the board also raised concerns over the fact
that board meetings are held at police stations, and especially over
the fact that Wednesday's meeting began while several members of the
public waited in the lobby to get inside.

"The public process at this meeting and the accommodation is a
complete disaster," said Stanley Tromp, coordinator of the Freedom of
Information caucus of the Canadian Association of Journalists.

"It began when there were 60 people down in the lobby trying to get
in being escorted up a few at a time in an elevator," he said.

Other speakers pointed out that some people in the community may be
intimidated by having to go to a police station for a board meeting,
especially if they are coming to raise complaints about police behaviour.

After the meeting, Sullivan said he appreciated the input and would
consider moving the meetings to a different location.