AUTHORS OF POLICE ABUSE REPORT WON'T NAME NAMES

A world-renowned human rights group that released a damning report against
the Vancouver police for its drug crackdown in the Downtown Eastside will
not divulge names of cops who allegedly violated drug addicts' rights.

Jonathan Cohen, a researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch, said
the group's report is aimed at raising public awareness of alleged human
rights violations-not providing names of the cops involved so they can be
disciplined by the department.

"Our purpose as an organization is not to act as judge and jury," said
Cohen from New York. "I think there's sort of a fundamental
misunderstanding of what we're doing. What we're presenting is a pattern of
credible allegations of abuse and recommending that the system be
redesigned and formulated in a way that makes it possible for people to
lodge complaints about it."

Called "Abusing the User: Police Misconduct, Harm Reduction and HIV/AIDS in
Vancouver," the report alleges instances of police "beating and otherwise
mistreating drug users in custody, conducting public strip searches and
using petty allegations such as jaywalking to justify stops and searches."

The report also documents a significant reduction in the use of needle
exchange programs and other life-saving services stemming from addicts'
alleged fear of police abuse and harassment.

Insp. Doug LePard, commander of the city-wide enforcement team conducting
the three-month blitz on drug dealers, called the Human Rights Watch report
"hopelessly flawed" and "lacking credibility." He also reiterated a
challenge he issued when Pivot Legal Society brought forward similar
complaints of police abuse-to provide names or badge numbers of the alleged
abusive cops.

"They haven't done that," he said.

So far, the Vancouver Police Department has not received any written
complaints against officers working in the Downtown Eastside. But Cohen
believes that's because people are afraid to lodge complaints, knowing they
will simply be investigated by police.

Cohen pointed out that police also investigate complaints filed with the
Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner. His group's report recommends
the city establish an independent commission to receive and investigate
complaints.

LePard, however, said the commission can order a public hearing if it's not
satisfied with the police's investigation.

LePard said the commission can also order another police department to
investigate complaints against the Vancouver police-an alternative that
LePard said has met with the approval of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

Cohen, one of two researchers who gathered information for the report,
noted the methodology used in interviewing addicts is used by Human Rights
Watch in 70 countries. The non-profit organization is highly regarded by
politicians and peace activists around the world, and lists Nobel Peace
Price winner Desmond Tutu and former foreign affairs minister Lloyd
Axworthy as members of its board.

In fact, Axworthy will facilitate a June 10 meeting in Vancouver between
Mayor Larry Campbell and Human Rights Watch. Campbell requested the meeting
after criticizing the group as having "only a partial understanding of the
issues at work" and casting a pall over the four-pillar drug strategy and
the city's reputation.

The three-month blitz against drug dealers in the Downtown Eastside began
April 7. Chief Const. Jamie Graham has said the crackdown will continue
beyond three months, but with fewer than the 60 cops currently devoted to
the project.