Police Oversight with Evidence and Research

Vancouver Police’s Task Force Barrage draws controversy from the community

By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer A new initiative aimed at stopping crime on the Downtown Eastside (DTES) adds another layer to conversations about the Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) purpose and policy. In February, the VPD and Vancouver mayor Ken Sim publicized Task Force Barrage, a “long-term operation to dismantle organized crime networks and target predatory criminals in the DTES.” Some community organizations have expressed concern over the initiative, including Police Oversight with Evidence and Research (POWER). The Peak corresponded with Tyson Singh Kelsall, researcher-member and PhD candidate in SFU’s faculty of health sciences, and Molly Beatrice, organizer-member and research assistant…

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