OLD TENSIONS APPEAR TO MELT AWAY AS MAYOR, POLICE CHIEF MEET

RCMP Probe into His Pre-Election Conduct 'Appropriate' To Ask For,
Sullivan Says

VANCOUVER -- Police chief Jamie Graham and new mayor Sam Sullivan
could not have been chummier yesterday as they sat side by side at Mr.
Sullivan's first meeting as chair of the Vancouver Police Board.

Any lingering friction from Chief Graham's decision to seek an RCMP
review of two drug-related incidents from Mr. Sullivan's past
dissipated in a sea of mutual admiration.

"I think the City of Vancouver is absolutely blessed to have a mayor
of this quality," Chief Graham gushed to reporters before the meeting.
"I couldn't be prouder to support him."

Mr. Sullivan praised the police chief as a professional who "is very
good at his job. I think we have a very good relationship."

The mayor even defended the chief for seeking the RCMP probe of his
conduct, in particular an incident some years ago in which he gave
money to a drug addict to buy crack cocaine.

On another occasion, Mr. Sullivan provided a prostitute with money for
drugs to keep her off the street.

"There was a lot of talk about these incidents during the campaign,
especially by my opponents," he said during a break in proceedings at
the police board.

"There was a lot of noise, so I think it was appropriate for the chief
to [ask for] a review."

Later yesterday, RCMP spokesman Sgt. John Ward said the assessment of
the mayor's actions will not be completed "for a little time yet." It
is not a criminal investigation, he explained, but rather a review to
determine exactly what happened.

"On the face of it, a criminal act of aiding and abetting the use or
purchase of drugs may have occurred, but we're not quite sure what the
truth is," Sgt. Ward said.

"All we have are media reports and Mr. Sullivan's own admissions. We
have to look at them and see if there is enough evidence to proceed
with a criminal investigation."

Mr. Sullivan, who apologized during the campaign for his actions, has
said he was motivated by compassion and a desire to understand drug
addiction.

Asked what he might do if convicted on a criminal charge, the mayor
joked: "I'm told that I could get day passes [from jail] for council
meetings."

Coincidentally, Chief Graham is also under review by the RCMP in his
case over a possible violation of the Police Act in connection with a
large donation to the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs by city
businessman David Ho.

During the police board meeting, both Mr. Sullivan and Chief Graham
came under attack from Rob Morgan, president of the Western Aboriginal
Harm Reduction Society.

In a presentation criticizing the recent police crackdown on drug
addicts shooting up on the street, Mr. Morgan said: "The top guy gives
the image of the city.

"But Sam Sullivan has started on the wrong foot, being investigated by
the RCMP. And the police chief, too.

"How can the police operate in a fair and accountable way, when there
are questions as to whether the chief and the chairman of the police
board are law-abiding citizens?"

Meanwhile, Mr. Sullivan promised a response to long-standing
complaints that the police board discourages public participation by
holding most meetings in small boardrooms at police
headquarters.

Yesterday was no exception. A large number of residents from the
Downtown Eastside had to sign in and receive a police "visitor" tag.
They then waited in the lobby of the police station for an officer to
escort them onto an elevator and eventually down a corridor to the
crammed board room. Some got tired of the wait and left.

In a forceful presentation to the board, Stanley Tromp of the Canadian
Association of Journalists called the situation "a complete disaster.
If this qualifies as a public meeting . . ."

He said the practice of using police property for board meetings
intimidates people.

"Just having to wear a visitor's badge is a message that you don't
belong. I know some people who are afraid to attend at all [because of
the police presence]."

Afterward, Mr. Sullivan said he was sympathetic to the
complaints.

"I certainly want to discuss alternatives to where the meetings are
held. I want to look at [holding future board meetings outside police
headquarters]," he said.

"I'm certainly going to be asking questions about it."