Fusion Security guards sued
for handcuffing and beating
low-income people
Despite credible evidence of ongoing violence,
Vancouver police refused to lay charges — as usual
June 28, 2011
In my own experience, most private security guards come across as reasonable people. But this news story highlights an ongoing problem not only with some security guards, but with probably most Vancouver police. Due to a lawsuit by the Pivot Legal Society, some guards now stand accused of illegally arresting, handcuffing and beating low-income people. The evidence is credible, the injuries are manifest and the witnesses include a Vancouver Province reporter. But Vancouver cops refused to lay charges.
The VPD apparently have a policy, whether formal or tacit, of supporting illegal “arrests” and gratuitous violence committed by security guards against low-income people — even when the victims are handcuffed.
Among the Vancouver cops who enthusiastically follow that policy are Ian Upton, John Doduk, Anna Grigoletto and Jeffrey Dy. So does Rollie Woods, a former Vancouver cop who’s now B.C.’s deputy police complaint commissioner.
Of course the victims lack power and social status. Otherwise Vancouver cops would treat them much, much differently.
Read a Georgia Straight feature on the relationship
between police and the people who run private security companies
Go to
The shadowy world of private police
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