BIG CITY'S TOP COP TALKS CRIME

Police misconduct, integration of services, a hard line on drugs and
dispersal of crime to suburbs such as White Rock and Surrey were on the
mind of Vancouver's top cop when Jamie Graham spoke to White Rock and South
Surrey Chamber of Commerce at Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club April 17.

Chief Inspector Graham emphasized that police take a hard line on all
crime--including misconduct by officers.

But he said he sees no evidence of Vancouver clamp-down on crime pushing
problems to the suburbs.

If anything, Graham said, the flow is the other way. He noted many
participants in the Vancouver riot after cancellation of the Guns N' Roses
concert had suburban addresses--including Surrey--and most were from Alberta.

In an apparent reference to investigation of an alleged Vancouver police
beating of a suspect, he said police misconduct is a serious concern, but
rare in Canada.

"Misconduct affects us all," he said.

"Don't think we don't take this seriously. My reputation rides along with
that."

Graham said, unlike other countries, where corruption is rife and police
may take someone away in the night, Canada's problems are with individual
cases of misconduct.

"We live under the rule of law, which is important to our concept of
democracy," he said.

"Elected officials must deal with a certain level of compromise, but police
are the front line between us and crime, and the last line of order. Every
police officer in Canada swears an oath to uphold the law--and if you don't
get it, you're in the wrong line of business." Graham said he doesn't play
politics because he isn't good at it.

"If I allow anyone to dictate my job I'm abdicating my responsibility."

He acknowledged a free press is a necessary thorn-in-the-side.

"There's nothing I hate more and nothing I respect more than reporters," he
said.

"No matter what you say, the reporter will get to the truth. If you make a
mistake, tell the truth."

Talking about integration of services among RCMP and other Lower Mainland
forces, he said there is "no secret plan for Vancouver to take over South
Surrey."

But he warned that 10 years from now "the map of policing in this area
won't look the same as it does now" as pooling of resources makes more
sense than having shortfalls in smaller detachments.

"Do you really care, if a crime happens in Hazelmere and the dog handler
comes from Vancouver, as long as you get good solid service?" he asked.

Graham talked about transformation of the drug-ridden Downtown Eastside
since the addition of 60 patrolling officers.

"Once again people are walking with their families. Never, ever, will it
return to the way it was before."

Graham said there has been no evidence crime has dispersed as a result.

"A flood of drug traffickers was supposed to come this way, but it's not
happening," he said.

"Dispersal is a huge issue, but there is no empirical evidence of dispersal
here.

"We're not going after addicts, we're going after dealers. If you're a
dealer we're sending you a message: you're going to be arrested."

Graham acknowledged Vancouver is the "epicenter of the drug problem in the
world" but said a lot of the problem is due to an overwhelmed court system
unable to mete out punishment.

"We have people out on their sixth bail," he said.

In his role of president of the B.C. Chiefs of Police he is a strong
opponent of decriminalization of marijuana, noting advocates recommend
legal amounts that would be huge.

"But we have a bigger problem with booze than with drugs."