GRAHAM'S DECISION HAS THE 'WISDOM OF SOLOMON'

Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham has "cut the baby in half" with a
decision worthy of Solomon, says a Simon Fraser University ethics expert.

But Mark Wexler, a professor of applied ethics, says Graham's decision to
fire two of the six police officers involved in the beating of three drug
dealers in Stanley Park won't end up satisfying anyone.

"These are what I call 'dirty-hands' decisions, which means you're damned
if you do and damned if you don't," said Wexler. "He's essentially saying,
'With the wisdom of Solomon we can indeed cut the baby in half.'"

Wexler said Graham was in a no-win situation, trying to please the police
force, the public and the taxpayer.

Wexler said Graham's ruling sent a message to his staff on the best way to
keep the police department functioning, while signalling which actions are
permissible and which are not.

Rob Gordon, director of the SFU school of criminology, praised Graham for a
"fair outcome" that mirrored penalties imposed on the six police officers
in B.C. Provincial Court.

"You have those that want to see them dipped in boiling oil on the one hand
and those that would want them released without punishment on the other,"
he said.

He said that none of the six were experienced police officers.

"That is one of the lessons that has to be learned from this," added
Gordon. "How this group of guys can roam around, six of them, in a police
van and pick people up and take them to the park and do the business, is
beyond me. It means that their supervisors are not watching what is happening."

WE ASKED: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

"I think they should have all been fired. And I think it should have been
decided by an external body."

- -- Sheryl Morrissey, 34, Vancouver

"I find it a little harsh. I think maybe a suspension for all of them --
because they're doing their job. It's too much of a punishment."

- -- Tony Li, 37, Vancouver

"There wasn't really much else [the police chief] could do. Had he let all
of them be fired, that would have totally demoralized the force."

- -- Joanne Dunne, 55, Port Moody

"I'm a little disappointed. I'm surprised only two got fired. I would have
expected that not necessarily all were fired, but a harsher suspension."

- -- Nicole Moore, 20, North Vancouver

"I think they definitely got what they deserved. Despite the fact that they
were [suspected] drug dealers, why should they be beat up for something
like that?"

- -- Chris Muir, 30, Abbotsford

"I think they should get the same consequences as anybody else. If it was
me that did that, what would I get? It shouldn't matter that they're police
officers."

- -- Shannon Murray, 39, Mission

"I think they should have all got fired or all got suspended. You're
involved or you're not. If some watched and didn't say anything, they
should get the same penalty."

- -- Dan Village, 16, Abbotsford

"Good on the firing. I don't know why two were fired and four were just
suspended."

- -- Valerie Cooke, 28, Vancouver