ncertainty cast over acti

WHEN provincial
court Judge R. Miller
pronounced a not
guilty verdict last week
against the three
Vancouver police offi-
cers charged with
assault emanating from
the now infamous
arrest of the hulking
David Davidson at the
Roxy sightclub in
August 1997, the
courtroom erupted
with the cheers of fel-
low officers sitting in

the gallery.

But before the cheers had
subsided, Miller pronounced
one of the officers,
Constable Brad Brewer,
guilty of a separate but relac-
ed assault. The mystifying
decision has the potential to
affect every police officer in
the province who has to be
physically involved arresting
a suspect.

The three officers have
been through a year of hell,
their own version of the
Queen’s unnns borribilus, It
started a vear ago, almost to

It it's

EWS,

then
it’s

crime and
aa! punisinnent

the day, when Vancouver
Police Department Chief
Constable Bruce Chambers
arbitrarily announced the
suspension of the officers
before the Crown had even
decided on whether charges
should be laid.

The resulting outcry from
the rank and file forced the
chief to reconsider his ill-
conceived move and he rein-
stated the officers, albeit to
administrative duties, not on
the street where they had
served the community for a
combined almost 40 years.

The chief's ham-fisted
handling of rhe situation
resulted in an unprecedented
show of disrespect for the
office of the Chief Constable
and triggered a morale issue
that festers to this day.

In what can only be
described as a face-saving
move, the “Roxy Three™
were charged criminally
before the file had even
made its way through the
checks and balances in the
system. This, despite the fact
there were no credible wit-
nesses supporting the assault
allegations and a myriad of
witnesses, both police and
civilian, supporting the offi-
cers’ version of events.

The primary witness
against the officers was one
of their own, 2 female officer
then known as Constable
Kare Yeo.

Yeo, who later changed
her name to Caprari, initially
described Davidson as “a
violent animal.” Strong
words, but seemingly appro-
priate when the scope of his
behaviour that night is
looked at.

Unfortunately, under
oath, she changed her mind
and stated those words were
an “embellishment.” Indeed.

During the lengthy inter-
nal investigation she changed
her version of events on sev-
eral occasions, seemingly

, Lube & Filter
21 pt. Safety check. 15 minutes - FAST!
Includes up t: 5 ttres of 10w30 Cuakerstate
1362 Marine Orive 980-91:'5
Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm, Sun. 9:00am-5:0Gamn Expires, Var, 299

The ultimate in tea,

nd tisanes and associated

Park Royal South

next to the Vanden osch

paraphernalia at

Ze'Tea Store

921-2888

nether one of ‘aur des igns.
For Free Estimate call

922-4975 or 987-2966
(Ask about our Servorn Discouns)
Labour $12.50 per pane! unfined, $13.50 lined.

Custom Reds, Upholstery & Bedspreads jgg
how Low Prices

Insurance
mServices Inc.

986-5265 &
ae ae ure

1
oy

CALL TODAY

105-2C0 West Esplanade
North Vancouver
(Located beneath
Famous Players Theatre}

unable to get it exactly right.

But throughout, she
maintained that constables
Brewer, Keiron McConnell
and Acting Sergeant Rod
Pederson, brutally kicked
Davidson while he was hand-
cuffed and being dragged to
the paddy wagon.

In reality, of the three,
only Pederson was “hands
on” with the hulking, juiced-
up biker wannabee. To prove
their innocence, both
McConnell and Brewer took
polygraph exams and passed.
Yet, despite this and the fact
there was no corrobor: ion,
they were still charged.

In Brewer's case, while he
was supposedly putting the
boot into Davidson, he was
actually dealing with a
bystander, Michael Dowler,
who had scen fit to get into
a scuffle with a bouncer at
the Roxy while the police
were trying to deal with the
initial problem.

Dowler declined to take
Brewer's advice to leave well
enough alone and depart lest
he be arrested for obstruc-
tion. While he was being
searched, he spun around on
Brewer who had placed him

| BENEFITS

Over 40 and worked in U.K. for
about & years? Attend these vital
one-hour info. meetings Canadian
Alliance for Sritish Pensions.
Voluntary. Non-Profit.
Sat Feb. 20: W.V. Senior
Centre. Marine & 2151. $1 am and
again at 2 pm.

922-8507

Estate and

Wednesday, February 17, 1999 — North Shore News - 7

ins in arrests &

in the search position —
with both arms outstretched
on the same paddy wagon
Davidson was being loaded
into on the far side.

Brewer reacted in the way
he had been trained. He
grabbed Dowler by the
throat and pushed him back
against the wagon and got
control of the young rowdy.
He spun him around and
completed searching and
handcuifing his prisoner.

Dowler, for his part, got
very contrite and begged not
to be sent to jail, spoiling his
otherwise ciean record.

Brewer then made his
first mistake. He cook pity
on Dowler and ordered the
wagon driver to simply
remove him from the area
and release him without
charge.

Had Brewer followed
through wich the charging of
Dowler, doubtless he would
not be in the situation he
finds himself in today. So
much for having a heart.

Now, Dowler, it should
be told, was very gratctul for
the break Brewer gave him.
He did not initiate any com-
plaint. Rather, he was con-

acted by internal investiga-
tors and pushed into making
his statement.

Brewer never hid or in
aay way tried to cover up
whar had occurred with
Dowler. He truly believed he
had done everything by the
book. In fact he was backed
up by the department’s own
use of force expert.

Sergeant Joel Johnson
testified it “was a natural
transition of prisoner spins
to gain control of the pris-
oner.” He explained the
hold used by Brewer was not
only appropriat:, but was a
training move.

Vet, Brewer was found
guilty by Judge Miller.

Miller gave a 10-page
written decision. He decid-
ed, somehow, that Caprari
was being truthful and
courageous.

This might be true if this
was a “Serpico” type situa-
tion — honest cop fighting
against corruption and run-
ning against the Blue Wall of
Silence.

Bur not in this case. She
probably believes what she

See Verdict page 9

Thanks for 13 Great Years!
30% OFF

STOCK

INSDALE QuaAY

Girders & Beams Toy Store }

inancial &

984-9200

Tax

Planning /

“ Mutual Fund Investing |

» RRSP's - Tax Time Bomb??

Sey > TAX SAVINGS: Mutual Fund - Annuities!

as

Planning; 4 > 100% Foreign Content in RRSP’s!

>» WORLD MARKETS - Y2K & Beyond
3> BUDGET 1999: - Impact on RRSP's

GUEST SPEAKERS

Kar] Palmen Bruce McAdie
g C.L. Group Fidelity investments
Feb 23 Feb 20

SEMINARS’
SAT., FEB 20 - 10:00 am
Park Ro,,al Hotel, 540 Clyde Ave., West Van.
TUES., FEB 23 - 7:00 pin

Lonsdale Quay Hotel, 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Van.

RSVP to Jeroo or Margaret at
436-3556 to reserve seats.

@ Canadian Investment Consultants (888) ine.|
a Andrew W.S. Donald

Sponsored by:

0

MUTUAL FUNDS
‘We're bere © gut yeu chore,

Pervez H. Patel

é