TRIAL SITE OKAY WITH GRAHAM

Police Chief Backs Campbell Drug Plan -- If It's Legal

Vancouver police chief Jamie Graham said Thursday he's willing to help push
for a trial safe-injection site to deal with the drug crisis on the city's
Downtown Eastside.

But Graham said the federal government will have to amend the laws to
permit such a site before Vancouver city police will agree to "full
participation."

"What I am not in favour of is allowing members of the Vancouver police to
break the law, especially on a topic like this," Graham told The Vancouver
Sun in a one-hour interview at police headquarters Thursday.

"That said, is it important to look at alternatives, because of what's
happening currently? And do we allow ourselves to look at alternatives with
the intent of simply having fewer people die from overdose and catching
disease? Well, sure ... We just can't continue the same way."

Graham, who met with mayor-elect Larry Campbell Wednesday morning, said
he's optimistic they will work well together and that a trial
safe-injection site can be established.

"I'm very, very hopeful and I'm more than prepared to lend my voice and the
authority of my office with Larry to encourage the federal government to
allow a pilot project to take place."

Graham said he and Campbell have a number of things in common, including
the fact both are former RCMP officers. Campbell was shortlisted for the
job as Vancouver's top cop, before the police board gave Graham a five-year
contract last July.

"I think one thing you cannot question, he's a very decent guy," Graham
said. "He's an extremely hard worker. He's very focused on change, and I'm
looking forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with him and supporting
him on issues and having him do the same on policing issues." One of those
issues is the department's need for more officers, Graham said. He told the
police board Wednesday that he will be asking city council for 44 beat
officers to help curb the drug trade.

"We need more people," he said. "I don't think that's a secret, and we're
going to put together some fairly detailed business cases to support that."

Graham said he would love to put officers on every street corner in the
Downtown Eastside if he could.

"We're doing some disruptive techniques down there right now -- putting
uniform people on the corners down there.

"And you should see the letters we're getting from people that live there,
that say: 'Finally.'

"It's creating other issues," he added. "The health and some of the
needle-exchange people are concerned. But we think the constant disruption
of the drug traffic -- the open-air drug markets -- is important to make
the life of the drug traffickers as unpleasant as possible."

Graham, who previously headed the Surrey RCMP detachment, admitted there
have been early challenges in his new job, particularly in dealing with
relentless media scrutiny on the force which can get "quite nasty."

"I think the one area -- and it's not a shock -- it's just surprising
somewhat is the predatory nature of the media," Graham said.

He said anyone taking the chief's job should be fully prepared for the
media coverage that goes along with it.

"You've got to really explain to people what this is going to be like and
if you're not prepared to live with it, get another job," he said.

"There are no tips for it. You don't go to school to learn how to be
truthful and how to be forthright."

He said he wants to improve the department's ability to communicate
publicly, which will be part of a strategic plan in the new year. Among the
things being considered are reducing the number of media briefings, which
are now held daily, and hiring an outside media expert, as the RCMP has done.

Graham said the senior officers in the department have already told him
they expect him to be a public figure.

"My people expect me to speak up and defend our position when necessary,"
Graham said. "I'm a firm believer that if we screw up and make a mistake,
that we will stand up and admit it and move on. I have no problem
apologizing when we make mistakes and I've done that."