It has been an eventful few weeks for crime in Vancouver and an even more eventful past few years for the wheels of justice in the province.
Earlier this month, we reported a story on a high-risk sex offender who was going to be living in Vancouver. Just days later, he was re-arrested for breaching conditions.
Then, earlier this week, a Toronto woman went viral after she shared how she was brutally attacked near Stanley Park. The suspect in that case was released on house arrest conditions after the attack. That story went viral and was reported by publications across Canada.
Additionally, over the past few years, we’ve shared many stories about repeat offenders committing violent crimes in Vancouver. Daily Hive had an exclusive interview with a former Vancouver police officer who now serves as a councillor for the City of Richmond. He didn’t mince words about what he feels are the major issues contributing to lawlessness in the city.
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Over the past several years, the issue of repeat offenders has taken centre stage. Many violent crimes committed in Vancouver over the past few years have involved suspects with rich criminal histories. That led to conversations about bail reform, which prompted changes from the federal government.
However, Kash Heed, the former police officer we spoke to, feels that the B.C. government is largely to blame. Heed served with the VPD for 32 years, leaving the force in 2007 when he was superintendent. He then took the chief’s spot with the West Vancouver Police Department.
One reality that we hear about a lot is that folks who are involved in some of the crimes committed in Vancouver are suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues. Sometimes, compassion is blamed for releasing repeat offenders due to their conditions.
“Compassion is to put them into some type of program that’s going to correct the condition that they have,” Heed said, adding that it isn’t compassionate to have people sleeping in alcoves and living on sidewalks.
When asked why we see so many repeat offenders, Heed said, “I point the finger right back at David Eby.”
“It’s the administration of justice. It’s clear that if you’re a threat to society, it is clear that if you’re a repeat offender, you should be locked up.”
“What happens is the judges in British Columbia disregard that. I don’t know why.”
Heed said that Eby and Attorney General Niki Sharma should go to the chief judge and bang their fists on the table, saying, “Your judges are not enforcing the bill reform act the way it was intended to be. What are you going to do about it?”
He added that they seem afraid to do so.
Policing over politics and how crime reporting in Vancouver has evolved
Dustin Godfrey/Shutterstock
Because Heed last worked for the VPD in the late 2000s, we asked if the narrative around crime in Vancouver and violent stranger attacks has changed since then. Heed believes the Vancouver Police Department’s approach to sharing information about crimes has shifted.
While Heed believes that the intensity of violent attacks hasn’t changed, he does think that the frequency has increased, but also the frequency of reporting, which has residents more attuned to instances of violence.
“At one point, they started to report all of these stranger attacks. Previously, police would internalize a lot of stranger attacks so as not to alarm the public, but for some reason, a decision was made to broadcast it and amplify it to the highest degree.”
He had opinions on why that change was made, including budgetary concerns and political reasons, such as the most recent civic election. In 2023, we asked VPD about the claim that crime reporting increased before the last civic election.
In response, the VPD said, “We present facts because people deserve transparency from public agencies and they deserve to know what the police department is doing to keep them safe and that offenders are apprehended.”
While Heed criticized the B.C. government for not doing more to lock up repeat offenders, he also had some additional suggestions on how the VPD could do things differently. As we reported earlier this year, VPD Chief Adam Palmer will be stepping down.
“I think they have a real good opportunity, because they’re changing the leadership of the department.”
Heed believes that the force should steer clear of politics and focus on policing.
“That next chief cannot forget what their role is as a public servant and how he or she can make a difference on how we ensure a safe environment for everyone.”