COPS CHANGE POLICY ON MISSING PROSTITUTES

The Abbotsford Police will treat reports of missing prostitutes as a
serious crime until foul play is ruled out.

The policy change comes partly in response to the Missing Women's
Joint Task Force investigation into the disappearance of 54 women
from Vancouver's downtown east side.

Vancouver Police have come under fire for their handling of the
disappearance of the women, mostly prostitutes, since June 1983.

Critics have said the police department didn't take the
disappearances seriously enough, quickly enough.

The Missing Women's Joint Task Force wasn't formed until 1999.

On Tuesday, the Abbotsford police board approved amendments to the
department's missing person's policy, treating prostitutes separately.

Previously, protocol was spelled out for missing persons in general
or for missing children.

"Based on the well-established fact that sex trade worker are a
vulnerable target of the deviant sexual criminal, due to the nature
of their street activities, reports of this category of missing
persons will be considered a priority by the Abbotsford Police
Department," the policy states.

"The missing person report will be handled in compliance with the
established investigative procedure for a serious crime until it can
be determined that foul play is not a factor."

Police Chief Ian Mackenzie calls the move "wise" and "prudent."

If a disappearance does turn out to be foul play, it is easier to
find witnesses immediately, rather than days or weeks later, he said.

Reports of missing sex trade workers are rare in Abbotsford.

The policy changes have been followed informally by the department,
he said, but the police department felt now was a good time to
enshrine it in policy. "Everyone has a heightened knowledge of the
vulnerability of these people (now)," said Mackenzie.

Since February, members of the task force have been searching a Port
Coquitlam farm in connection to the investigation. Owner Robert
Pickton is charged with the murder of six of the missing women and
made another court appearance yesterday.

Meanwhile, members of the Abbotsford Police have been providing
support for the Missing Women's Joint Task Force investigation at the
Port Coquitlam farm.

"Our participation is confirmed to, at this point, providing members
for site security," said Const. Shinder Kirk.

One or two officers at a time, on a rotation, are helping keep
non-police personnel off the farm.

"Those members are being drawn from the tactical troupe (riot
squad)," Kirk said.

* For the second time in less than a week, Grampa's RV Repairs has
been hit by a firebug.

"I feel totally sick, irate," said Bob, the owner of the Peardonville
Road business. He did not wish to have his last name published.

At about 1:15 a.m. yesterday, firefighters were called to the
business for a report of a truck and camper unit on fire.

When they arrived, the vehicle was fully involved, and firefighters
worked quickly to prevent surrounding recreational vehicles from
going up in smoke.

Some were damaged by the heat and flames. Bob had been planning to
spend the night in the truck to ward off another fire, but was
convinced by others that it wouldn't happen again.

"I could have fallen asleep in there," he said, noting he could be
seriously injured, even dead, if he had spent the night in the truck.

Last Thursday night, two trailers were destroyed and a motorhome
damaged after a fire.

Both fires are deemed suspicious, but the fire department said it is
too early to tell if the two fires are the work of the same person.

"It looks like we have some brats running around with a torch," Bob said.

"It could be anyone. It's nothing personal against Grampa's RV's.
Somehow I'll get through this."

However, he's still frustrated to see his work go up in smoke, and is
angry with the person setting the blaze: "Give me 10 minutes with the
sucker . . ."

* A case of the munchies has landed a marijuana advocate in the slammer.

Timothy Felger, 45, has long been outspoken about ending the
criminalization of pot and was in the lobby of Abbotsford provincial
court on Monday, trying to interest people in his cause.

While Abbotsford Police Const. Shinder Kirk did not know the contents
of the literature Felger was distributing, Felger has on a number of
occasions publically spoken about the need to legalize marijuana and
is planning a rally for next month.

When sheriffs at the courthouse asked Felger to remove his
literature, he became "agitated and aggressive to the point where he
was asked to leave the property," said Kirk.

"He (Felger), in no uncertain terms, declined to leave and continued
to cause a disturbance," Kirk said.

Trying to "take a bite out of crime," sheriffs physically restrained
Felger, who, in turn, allegedly took a bite out of one of the
sheriffs.

Felger apparently chomped on the left hand of a sheriff as they tried
to escort him out of the courthouse.

He was taken into custody without further incident and was charged
with causing a disturbance, obstructing a police officer and assault.