Peter Hodson and Vancouver police:
Just one bad apple?
Decisive action against a rogue officer
proves the VPDs commitment
to accountability. Or does it?
April 22, 2010
Cops arent pulling any punches against Peter Hodson. The Vancouver police constable was suddenly fired, charged and jailed for a number of allegations, including selling marijuana on and off duty. This proves that Vancouver police wont stand for misconduct or criminal actions among its officers.
Or does it?
Chief Jim Chus statement refers to Hodson as a rogue officer, one bad apple. What does that say about all those cops who remain on the job pending long, slow investigations into allegations of, for example, police brutality?
Theyre not rogue officers?
In fact theyre not. Gratuitous violence is rife in police culture. It happens much more often than the media report. When cops get caught, their fellow cops do their best to cover up for them.
Hodson crossed a line by allegedly selling drugs. Now hes an ex-cop sitting in jail pending a criminal trial. Vancouver constables Nicholas Florkow and Bryan London to name just two are still on the force, still drawing pay and will probably never face criminal charges.
All they allegedly did was beat the shit out of an innocent man.
Thats something to consider when the VPD use Hodson as their poster boy for police accountability.
Update: If Vancouver police have entered
a new era of accountability, then how the hell
do they explain this?
A murder attempt notwithstanding,
inmate/ex-cop Peter Hodson received special privileges
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