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Nov 25, 2010 17:58 ET

UBCIC Files Conflict of Interest Complaint Against Wally Oppal

Attention: Assignment Editor, City Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor

VANCOUVER, BC, NEWS RELEASE--(Marketwire - Nov. 25, 2010) - On November 23, 2010, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs filed a formal complaint with the Law Society of British Columbia which raises potential conflict of interest issues concerning Wally Oppal, QC as Commissioner of the BC Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.

"Although the Union of BC Indian Chiefs supports the BC Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, we share the deep concerns of many families and community leaders that the inquiry they have fought so hard for will not achieve what was hoped for," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. "How can an inquiry into the failings of police, government and Crown continue when there is at the very least a serious perception of conflict of interest of the person to lead it?"

Grand Chief Phillip continued "We all hope for an inquiry that will seek honesty, accountability, fundamental change and true reconciliation to honour and bring a measure of justice to the families who had their loved ones stolen from their embrace. Their loved ones deserve no less than a full and untainted measure of justice."

/For further information: http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/

Related articles

• Ex-politician should quit Pickton inquiry, says brother of missing woman (canada.com)
• Wally Oppal fends off attacks over his role as head of Pickton probe (theglobeandmail.com)
• Pickton inquiry appointment defended by Oppal (cbc.ca)

VPD Deputy Chief Doug LePard takes questions on the Pickton investigation

Wednesday September 8, 2010

10:00	The Globe and Mail:  Hello and welcome to our online discussion with Vancouver Police Department Deputy Chief Doug Le Pard. Deputy LePard authored the VPD’s 400-page report on the investigation of the Missing Women of the Downtown Eastside. That investigation led to the arrest and conviction of serial killer Robert Pickton. Joining us in today’s discussion will be Globe reporter Robert Matas. Robert has covered the Downtown Eastside since the 1990s and worked on the Pickton case from 2005 until now. I’m going to ask Robert to ask the first question.
10:01	[Comment From Robert Matas]  Deputy chief LePard: You filed an extensive report, the RCMP have also completed a report on their investigation. What is left ofr a public inquiry to do?
10:04	[Comment From DCC Doug LePard]  We think there needs to be some sort of an independent review, whether or not that's a full-blown public inquiry is up to the government. The RCMP has not released its internal review so the public doesn't know whether all the questions have been answered. In any case, it's important that someone independent reviews all the information so that there's no perception of bias.
10:05	Robert Matas:  Can we expect the full co-operation of the VPD with all players prepared to testify? Will Mr. Pickton be part of an inquiry and also entitles to government paid legal representation?

10:07	[Comment From DCC Doug LePard]  The VPD will cooperate fully in any process. While we do not have control over retired members, I expect that they will want to cooperate. There has already been a trial into Pickton's actions and he has been convicted of 6 counts of murder. There is no reason for him to be any part of an Inquiry, in the same way that there was no reason for Paul Bernardo to play any role in the Inquiry into the police investigation into his crimes.
10:08	Robert Matas:  What role would you like to see the families of the victim have in an inquiry?
10:08	[Comment From Bethan]  I would like to know if the RCMP has investigated any accomplices? I am of the firm conviction that there were many people (family & friends) who knew about Pickton's practices/tendancies and kept his cover. It seems hard to believe this many murders went by and only one man was involved.

10:09				[Comment From DCC Doug LePard]  My focus was on the police investigation but I think any inquiry has to be sensitive to the interests of the families, but I think they should speak for themselves on what role they would like to play.
10:10				Robert Matas:  You apologized on behalf of the VPD for mistakes that were made. What does that mean? Has the career of any officer been affected by decisions that were made during the investigation? has anyone been held responsible for the mistakes?
10:10				DCC Doug LePard:   Regarding the involvement of accomplices, that issues was canvassed very thoroughly at trial. I do not want to speak for the investigative team that worked on the investigation after Pickton's arrest.
10:14				[Comment From Maggy Gisle]  I as a friend and considered family member of Cara Ellis want to know that the errors that have been made and the predjudice against our love ones will be changed and or not tolerated in the future
10:14				DCC Doug LePard:   All of the officers who were in management positions during the Missing Women investigation have retired from the VPD. This investigation had a profound affect on many officers involved. My review and other books, media coverage, etc., have created a certain kind of accountability, but what I have stressed is that no one wanted a killer to escape. Pickton was the villain. Mistakes were made and there are police officers who will be haunted by them for the rest of their lives. But when it comes to providing the information received about Pickton killing a woman in his barn in Coquitlam, the record shows the investigators provided all information as they received it to the police agency of jurisdiction in Coquitlam, who led the investigation into that information.
10:15			The Globe and Mail:  Reposting this question to keep us in order: [Comment From Maggy Gisle Maggy Gisle: ] I as a friend and considered family member of Cara Ellis want to know that the errors that have been made and the predjudice against our love ones will be changed and or not tolerated in the future
10:15			Robert Matas:  Would mistakes have been avoided if Vancouver had a regional police force? Would VPD give up its autonomy to join a regional force
10:16		DCC Doug LePard:   That is an important question, i.e., what have we learned? I made a number of recommendations in my report for the VPD and others. All of the recommendations to the VPD have been implemented and we released a document summarizing them. Regarding bias against marginalized people, we have worked hard to demonstrate our commitment to protecting ALL citizens, including having a sex industry liaison and a homeless liaison, as just 2 examples.
10:17		[Comment From Bethan]  Having done this report, can the RCMP make any "big picture" conclusions or recommendations regarding the laws that surround prostitution? It appears to me, so long as sex workers are unable to work in a safe environment & engage in business properly- they will continue to be the victims of rape, assault and murder.
10:18	DCC Doug LePard:   If a regional force that included the Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam area had been in place, that would have reduced barriers to communication and reduced the impact of different priorities between agencies. The VPD has been on record as supporting a regional police force that would be a NEW agency, not simply an expansion of the VPD. The literature is clear that "absorbing" other police agencies is not the best way to go and we recognize that we would be just one jurisdiction involved in forming a new agency, if a regional force were to be created.
10:19	DCC Doug LePard:   I can't speak for the RCMP's views on the prostitution laws.

10:19

[Comment From edward]  Couldnt the VPD pushed for an investigation at the management level if the local RCMP werent doing thier job? Where was VPD management?

10:20

DCC Doug LePard:   Yes. I state that clearly in my report that while all info about Pickton was provided at the investigator level, VPD management should have advocated at a senior level for a more intense investigation following the summer of 1999. Up until that time, the RCMP in Coquitlam were very diligent about pursuing the information about Pickton. The VPD failed at a senior level to make all reasonable attempts to keep that momentum going.

10:21

Robert Matas:  Your report was critical of the police board for approving the reward for information. What responsibility does the board and the mayor have for conduct of the missing women investigation?

10:22

DCC Doug LePard:   The Board's responsibility is for governance, strategic direction and budget issues. They are specifically NOT responsible for operational matters, which are the jurisdiction of the Chief Constable.

10:22

[Comment From Randy]  Exactly WHAT INFORMATION did Vancouver PD provide to Coquitlam RCMP about a killing in the barn in Coquitlam. And given today's judicial requirements - was it sufficiently reliable to get a search warrant at the time??

10:24

DCC Doug LePard:   ALL information in the possession of the VPD was provided to the Coquitlam RCMP and it is detailed in my report. No, there was not sufficient information to obtain a search warrant at the time. But what I found was that there was more than sufficient information to justify a continued aggressive investigation into the Pickton information to either develop enough information to charge him or eliminate him as a suspect.

10:24

Robert Matas:  The missing women task force has identified at least 30 women who are missing and not linked to Mr. Pickton. What about them? Are they assumed to be dead? What resrouces have been put into the search for the women who are still missing.

10:25

DCC Doug LePard:   That is a question that is better answered by the Missing Women Task Force. I can tell you that they have been extremely diligent regarding that matter, and significant resources continue to be applied to the investigation.

10:26

Robert Matas:  Did you find any resistance within the VPD to your internal investigation?

10:26

[Comment From Randy]  So then do you know specifically what Coquitlam RCMP did with that information and their investigation. Do you have facts or are you speaking on rumours and inuendo?

10:27

DCC Doug LePard:   There was no resistance to my internal review - the level of cooperation was outstanding. Regarding Randy's question, yes I have facts and no I did not rely on rumours or innuendo. He will have to read my detailed report that is sourced with extensive documentation such as memos, meeting minutes, file notes, investigator interviews, etc.

10:28

[Comment From Maggy Gisle]  Is the bad trick sheet that is put out weekly being kept documented by the police for future reference?

10:28

Robert Matas:  Has the RCMP responded to your remarks about how they dropped the ball?

10:29

DCC Doug LePard:   There are a number of bad date sheets such as you describe and our officers access them extensively to assist with investigations. In addition, or sex industry liaison, Cst. Linda Malcolm, meets directly with sex trade workers and advocates at places like WISH and PEERS to get this sort of information directly.

10:30

DCC Doug LePard:   I have had a number of meetings with the RCMP and they have responded to me privately in person and in writing on some aspects. I hope that they will be in a position to make their written comments to me public at some point. We have very frank and productive conversations - they have the same objectives as the VPD when it comes to public safety and that is to provide excellent policing services.

10:31

[Comment From Guest]  What is going to improve in the future? Will there be recommendations surrounding the laws surrounding prostitution? Will it be sensitivity training? From all this hard work you have done, what is going to change?

10:33

DCC Doug LePard:   We have already done a great deal with respect to "sensitivity training," including having sex trade workers speak to our police recruits. Regarding the laws around prostitution, that is a complex issue, but I would point out that in jurisdictions that have legalized some of the currently illegal prostitution-related behaviour, there is still a survival sex trade. These are women who would not be able to work in a regulated industry. To help them, we need to address poverty, addiction, homelessness and mental health issues so that they are not forced into those tragic and dangerous circumstances.

10:33

[Comment From Guest]  Deputy Chief Constable LePard, please explain why warmed over "Missing Women Report" serves only to absolve the BC Public Guardian and Trustee while making only fleeting reference to the fact that the majority of the Missing Women has significant and repeated contacts with BC's Health care system - as many as three times a week - yet the VPD and other policing agencies fail to address the callous disregard of health are professionals in favour of playing patsy to systemic abuse issues.

10:34

DCC Doug LePard:   I'm not sure I understand the question. The issue of the Public Guardian and Trustee was not one I reviewed. Regarding BC's health care system, I think that is a question better directed to them, not the police.

10:35

Robert Matas:  Going back to your response on the current list of missing women, you replied that the question is better answered by the missing women's task force. But if the women come from the Downtown Eastside, why isn't the VPD involved in the investigation?

10:36			DCC Doug LePard:   Most but not all of the women were associated to the DTES. In fact, the Missing Women Task Force has always been a joint force operation of the RCMP and the VPD, and that continues to this day. The JFO has been a model of inter-agency cooperation.
10:37			[Comment From edward]  You say you are being transparent and some of VPD "management" was at fault. Who exactily was in charge? Are they names in the report? How will they be held accountable?
10:39		DCC Doug LePard:   Their names are in the unredacted version of the report. The names of some people (not all) that I am critical of have been replaced with aliases. This was not a "discipline" investigation and the purpose of the report was not to punish or humiliate individuals. All the officers who were involved in management roles in the VPD at the time of the investigation have retired. In fact, of ALL the people involved, only two remain in the VPD - they were at the investigator level.
10:40		Robert Matas:  Concerning the apology, does that entail financial compensation?
10:41	DCC Doug LePard:   There are several outstanding civil lawsuits launched years ago by some families of Missing Women. Any financial compensation would be determined in that process.
10:41	[Comment From Maggy Gisle]  How are ou going to make a missing persons report for a non family member easier when the person has had no contact with their family for years?

10:41	Robert Matas:  Who sees the unredacted version of your report and will it ever be available to the public?
10:47	The Globe and Mail:  Thanks for your patience - we have a slight technical glitch right now, but we're hoping Deputy LePard will be back with us momentarily.
10:47	Guest:   Is this working now?

10:48			DCC Doug LePard:   I think I'm back on.
10:48			The Globe and Mail:  You are! Excellent.
10:48			Robert Matas:  I'll re-ask my question: Who sees the unredacted version of your report and will it ever be available to the public?
10:49			DCC Doug LePard:   Regarding the unredacted version, it was circulated internally, provided to the Provincial Government, and also to the RCMP and several other government bodies with a statutory role to play. If there is an Inquiry, the unredacted version will be provided and it will be up to the Inquiry whether it is made public.
10:50		The Globe and Mail:  Reposting: [Comment From Maggy Gisle Maggy Gisle: ] How are ou going to make a missing persons report for a non family member easier when the person has had no contact with their family for years?
10:50		DCC Doug LePard:   Further, the redaction that occurred was the minimum that was REQUIRED to be in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. There were names of confidential informants, and also others involved who have privacy interests in law.
10:52		Robert Matas:  Your report includes numerous revelations about the operation of the police. How did you feel when you discovered how the investigation was handled?
10:52		DCC Doug LePard:   We have changed out policies to be more flexible around that issue. I'm very proud of our Missing Person's Unit which has had a better than 99% success rate for a number of years now. Regarding systemic barriers to reporting that I identified in my report, one of the positive outcomes is now a provincial missing person's centre run by the RCMP which the VPD strongly supports and we continue to talk about how we can make it stronger. For example to reduce barriers to making missing persons reports in the province and ensure anomalous patterns are caught early.
10:54		The Globe and Mail:  Reposting: Robert Matas: Your report includes numerous revelations about the operation of the police. How did you feel when you discovered how the investigation was handled?
10:55	DCC Doug LePard:   Many police officers did their very best. In some cases that wasn't good enough, and in others there were a myriad of systemic factors that contributed to failures. I had the luxury of hindsight and things are always clearer. But as I said, there was enough information at the time to justify a more aggressive investigation and it's hard to look at the opportunities that were missed and not be really bothered by it, considering how high the stakes were. I was sick about it. As an investigator told me, "if only we ALL knew what information was available collectively, we could have solved this." There was a lack of systematic analysis of all the information pointing at Pickton.
10:55	The Globe and Mail:  We have time for one more question from Globe reporter Robert Matas.

10:56	Robert Matas:  Has the Solicitor General or anyone else from the provincial government contacted you for a discussion about your report? Have you made presentations to the cabinet or others on your findings?
10:58	DCC Doug LePard:   Earlier this year, I provided a presentation to the Deputy Solicitor General and the Assistant Deputy Solicitor General. I have not been contacted by anyone in government since the release of the report regarding providing briefings or anything like that. Given the summer timing, I expect that first the report will be reviewed by government staff; there's a lot to digest. I understand Cabinet will be discussing the issue today.
10:59	The Globe and Mail:  That is all we have time for today. Many thanks to Deputy Chief LePard for taking the time to join us and answer these important questions.

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