WE SHOULD ALL BE SHOCKED AT HOW BRUTAL BEATINGS WERE

Police Chief Jamie Graham has made what's been described as a Solomon-like
decision to fire two of the six officers involved in the Stanley Park
beatings.

The prevailing wisdom is Graham picked up badly needed brownie points by
addressing public outrage over Vancouver's finest behaving like thugs, while
appeasing the hawks who felt the officers' low-life victims got exactly what
they deserved.

"I, too, wish to apologize to the citizens of Vancouver if the deplorable
actions of a few of my police officers have in any way shaken their faith in
the Vancouver police," the chief said.

But, if Graham's decision is so wise, how come so many Vancouver citizens
feel like they've been fleeced by this disgraceful affair?

Yes, city taxpayers have already had to shell out $300,000 in salaries for
the year the six officers have been paid for sitting at home, not including
their "free" legal fees.

Plus, they'll almost certainly be on the hook for all or part of the
$180,000 the victims' lawyer, Phil Rankin, says he'll be seeking in civil
damages.

This wasteful expenditure of money and energy comes at a time when Graham's
department seems incapable of tackling even the basic concerns Vancouver
citizens have over the proliferation of property crime. (Graham's approach
seems to be we should all buy theft alarms . . . but talk about blaming the
victim).

Myself, I agree for once with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. All six
police officers should have been fired. After all, they all pleaded guilty
in court in November. And aren't police sworn to uphold the law, not break
it?

That's why I don't buy what the Vancouver Police Union is saying in support
of the two officers who have, in fact, been dismissed. "They made mistakes
and they're paying for their mistakes, they shouldn't have to pay with their
careers as well," said VPU boss Tom Stamatakis.

No, Tom, they're not paying for their mistakes, it's taxpayers who are. And,
judging by what the two did in the early hours of Jan. 14, 2003, their
mistakes should be career-ending. At least they've had a year to think about
it, on full pay.

One ray of light, though. The media-bashing Graham finally seems to be using
the media, in the form of the Internet, to get his message out.

And, if you go online, you'll read previously unpublished facts of this case
in 100 pages of shocking detail, as laid out in Graham's disciplinary
proceedings. There, you'll understand just how brutal, calculated and
cynical the police beatings were -- and how they give a whole new meaning to
the term "beat cop."

"I was shocked," said BCCLA president John Russell.

I was, too. And so we all should be.