1969-1 994

October 2, 1994 48 p pages

Rifle-toting man ‘lonely’

A LOCAL gun-control advo-
cate says the incident involv-
ing a rifleman at West
Vancouver’s White Spot on
Sept. 23 was too close for
comfort.

Joaded .303 rifle shonly after he was
distracted by a West Vancouver
Police (WYP) officer. Adams had
walked towards the main entrance of
a packed White Spot restaurant on
Marine Drive at dinner time after
racking two bullets into his rifle.

The North Vancouver man, who
has a history of mental illness, was
dressed in battle fatigues and cumou-
flage paint. He carried 50 more
rounds of ainmunition with him.

“AL the time it seemed to be treat-
ed so casually.” said Bob Grahame.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo

News Reporter

“T can't believe it. It could have
been Marc Lepine all over again,”
said Ray Eagle on Friday.

On Sept. 23, 48-year-old Bob

Adams was talked into giving up his See Salute page 5

West Van Police officer
a three-time local hero

WEST VANCOUVER Police
Cpl. Dick Clancy is no
stranger to making the right
decision in a life-and-death
situation.

By Anna Marie D’Angelo
News Reporter

The 24-year police veteran man-
aged to convince a mentally dis-
turbed man to give up his loaded
rifle on Sept. 23 outside a packed
White Spotl restaurant on Marine
Drive.

The distraught North Vancouver

man had walked around outside
Park Royal Shopping Centre with
his powerful rifle loaded with cight

WEST VAN Police Cpl. Dick
Clancy... convinced gunman
to give up his weapon.

rounds of bullets.

Clancy kept his own revolver in its holster, deciding that a gun battle
would injure restaurant patrons in the cross-fire.

Clancy’s gut reaction was to Wik to the gunman in military jargon and
order him to disarm, No one was injured and the man was arrested.

West Vancouver Police Insp. Frank Aikenhead said Clancy did an out-
standing job of appraising the situation and choosing to ignore his police
training and keep his revolver in ifs holster with a suspect facing him
holding a loaded rifle.

“It took a lot of guts for him not to draw his revolver,” said Aikenbead.

Earlier this year, Clancy received an outstanding police service award
for bravery from the Attorney General's Ministry for saving a teenager
from ending her life off the Lions Gate Bridge.

Clancy grabbed the girl's hand as she clung to the outside vertical
guard rail of the local landmark at 2:30 a.m. onan April £992 morning.

Clancy said he headed directly to the bridge after the radio call.

In October 1983, Clancy received an appreciation certificate from
West Vancouver District for pulling three people out of a burning build-
ing.

The North Vancouver resident and futher of three girls is affectionately
called the “John Wayne in blue” by some of his fellow police officers.

But Clancy plays down the heroics.

“There are so hard and fast rules. ma firm believer that in a danger-
ous situation, you have to go with your gut feelings.” said Clancy.

1 rHE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

FIREWORKS
New bylaw proposal
would end backyard
fireworks displays.

MACKAY CREEK
District charged in
connection with death
uf coho salmon fry.

NEWS photo Mike Waketield

FIREFIGHTERS FROM across North America joined loca! firefighters to train in North
Vancouver recently. High angle rope rescue technique was on the agenda.

Training keeps rescuers
on top of emergencies

NORTH VANCOUVER District Fire
Services firefighters recently conducted
rescue training exercises.

The fire department has trained locally with
Lowisiana-based Roce Rescue since 1988.

The fire department rescue team dias ciken this
training and has adapted it to rescue procedures in
the wilderness environment of the Lynn and

Capilano canyons.

Rescuers learn how to rappel (stide down a rope}
and use rope systems and stretchers lo retrieve vie-
ums,

The trainiag also allows safe response to indus-
triad accidents involving toxic gases or low oxygen
conditions in confined areas,

District firefighters Bob Salo and Steve
Atkinson are certified Roco instructors.

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REACHING EVERY “DOOR 0 ON THE NORTH SHORE SINCE 1969