VPD whistleblower alleges arrest quotas in Downtown Eastside crackdown [Video]

British Columbia’s police watchdog says the Vancouver Police Board must look into an officer’s allegation that arrest quotas have been issued as part of Mayor Ken Sim’s “Task Force Barrage” initiative in the Downtown Eastside.

An email from the anonymous whistleblower is on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the board, along with a corresponding letter from the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner asking the board to take action.

The complaints commissioner says it received a complaint from the VPD member on March 8, calling Task Force Barrage a “politically motivated crackdown” and saying those in charge have been “setting quotas.” 

Much of the email from the whistleblower is redacted, but it says in part that they were taught that officers had discretion to decide whether to charge people.

“But now it’s clear they don’t value their officers’ discretion and decision-making, and [they’re] setting quotas. I don’t think this …