Jamie Graham - Controversy and Criticism

Controversy and Criticism

Graham and his department have been the subject of controversy during his term. The Georgia Straight newspaper has criticized Graham for being too entrenched in traditional police culture to effectively respond to problems of misconduct.

In January 2003, three men were beaten by police officers in Stanley Park. Graham recommended that six officers be charged in connection with the assault. He later fired two of them and imposed the maximum suspensions under the Police Act to the other four after they plead guilty to the charges.

Pivot Legal Society published To Serve and Protect: A Report on Policing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in 2002, which documented approximately 60 affidavits from people regarding police misconduct. Pivot also filed a number of complaints against the VPD with the Police Complaint Commissioner (PCC), Dirk Ryneveld. After an internal investigation by the Vancouver Police and the RCMP, no criminal allegations were found or substantiated. Two officers received minimal discipline for what was determined to be minor policy violations. In 2005, Ryneveld issued a report stating, "What we do know is that RCMP ultimately reported the very regrettable circumstance of a lack of cooperation on the part of 'certain VPD members,' also incidents of non-responsiveness by the police chief himself." Mayor Sam Sullivan dismissed the non-cooperation complaint in May 2007, stating partly that there was no practical way to discipline a retiring police chief. Ryneveld overruled him, demanding that a further investigation take place. Graham strongly denied obstructing the RCMP in any way, referring people to his published report on the matter. The new investigation was conducted by Jim Cessford of the Delta Police Department. In his report, Cessford wrote that "Chief Graham did not fully exercise his authority in ensuring that his members cooperated as required." Although Graham did not actively obstruct the RCMP investigation, Cessford concluded that he did commit, "through his inaction, the Code of Conduct offence of Discreditable Conduct." The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner reviewed and accepted the report's finding of discreditable conduct, but did not see anything to warrant a public inquiry into the matter.

During the 2005 municipal elections, Graham had Sam Sullivan, then a candidate for mayor, investigated for his admission that he had given money to addicts to buy drugs and allowed one to smoke crack in his van. An editorial in the Georgia Straight attacked the investigation as a political move.

Graham and the Vancouver Police Department have expressed support for the principles behind Insite, Vancouver's controversial safe injection site, which has drawn criticism from conservative groups and the RCMP. Noting that "our organization's primary responsibilities are safety and public order," Graham has supported any project that falls within the laws of Canada.

In April 2006, RCMP investigators exonerated Graham from allegations of misappropriating funds related to a 2004 police conference. A employee had alleged that Graham and other police executives used complimentary hotels rooms during the convention.

In July 2006, Graham left a bullet-riddled shooting range target on the desk of city manager Judy Rogers. On the target, Graham wrote: “A bad day at the range is better than the best day at work.” He later apologized to her for the incident.

In January 2012, the Honourable Jakob S. de Villiers rendered final judgement of misconduct against Graham for comments made to media surrounding protest events during the 2010 Olympics. This was Graham's second conviction under the police act

In February 2012, Mr Graham admitted guilt for "neglect of duty" under the police act, for unsafe storage of a loaded handgun under the seat of his car and received a reprimand for his misconduct