Police

The chief of a municipal police force in Metro Vancouver has issued an open letter criticizing B.C.’s drug decriminalization policy as ineffective in the face of the ongoing overdose crisis. Leah Hill, a behavioral health fellow with the Baltimore City Health Department, displays a sample of Narcan nasal spray in Baltimore on Jan. 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Semansky

B.C. police chief casts doubt on B.C. drug decriminalization effectiveness

Neil Dubord said early returns have not shown the desired outcome

The chief of a municipal police force in Metro Vancouver has issued an open letter criticizing B.C.’s drug decriminalization policy as ineffective in the face of the ongoing overdose crisis. Leah Hill, a behavioral health fellow with the Baltimore City Health Department, displays a sample of Narcan nasal spray in Baltimore on Jan. 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Semansky
Police apprehended a hit and run suspect who fled dangerously from police on Vernon’s Hospital Hill Wednesday evening, July 12, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Lower Mainland trio arrested after high-speed chase in Vernon; police cruiser hit

Three vehicle occupants were arrested and two released; a Surrey man will head to court later today

Police apprehended a hit and run suspect who fled dangerously from police on Vernon’s Hospital Hill Wednesday evening, July 12, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Six people are facing charges after a drug-trafficking investigation that began two years ago and spanned B.C. and Alberta. Included in the investigation was more than $500,000 worth of drugs and cash. (ALERT)

6 charged in drug-trafficking investigation in Alberta, B.C.

‘Project Deception’ first started in May 2021, with more than $500,000 in drugs being seized

Six people are facing charges after a drug-trafficking investigation that began two years ago and spanned B.C. and Alberta. Included in the investigation was more than $500,000 worth of drugs and cash. (ALERT)
18-year-old Samir Olyad Suleiman Ali (left) and 17-year-old Yasbirat Ytatek were killed by a driver fleeing a traffic stop in New Westminster on July 26. Cory Robert Ulmer Brown has been charged has since been charged in the fatal crash. (Oliyad Ali/Youtube & GoFundMe photos)

B.C. man, 27, charged; accused of fleeing police in crash that killed 2 teens

Cory Robert Ulmer Brown is currently in custody on unrelated charges

18-year-old Samir Olyad Suleiman Ali (left) and 17-year-old Yasbirat Ytatek were killed by a driver fleeing a traffic stop in New Westminster on July 26. Cory Robert Ulmer Brown has been charged has since been charged in the fatal crash. (Oliyad Ali/Youtube & GoFundMe photos)
Police in Vernon investigated after a person was found with severe burns from an incident that is believed to have occurred in Justice Park early Friday morning, June 23, 2023. Police confirmed Tuesday, June 27, that the person died in hospital that same day. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Serious crimes investigates death of person found with severe burns in Vernon

Police don’t know how the person suffered their injuries, but the death is being considered suspicious

Police in Vernon investigated after a person was found with severe burns from an incident that is believed to have occurred in Justice Park early Friday morning, June 23, 2023. Police confirmed Tuesday, June 27, that the person died in hospital that same day. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Police are investigating after a body was found in a wooded ravine along Highway 6 in Vernon Wednesday, June 21, 2023. (Vladvictoria/Pixabay.com)

Body found off Highway 6 in Vernon

Police are investigating, but no criminality is currently suspected

Police are investigating after a body was found in a wooded ravine along Highway 6 in Vernon Wednesday, June 21, 2023. (Vladvictoria/Pixabay.com)
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. (File photo)

Surrey mayor threatens to call for inquiry into policing transition after Farnworth’s ultimatum

Farnworth issues ultimatum to see city report by 1 p.m. Monday or he’ll be ‘forced to make a determination about what is necessary for safe and effective policing without it’

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. (File photo)
Edward James Waddell was found dead in a Kelowna cell on April 1, 2017. (Submitted)

Kelowna Court hears that man died by overdose while in custody

Edward James Waddell was found dead in Kelowna jail on April 1, 2017

Edward James Waddell was found dead in a Kelowna cell on April 1, 2017. (Submitted)
A police car with flashing lights is shown in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke

4 women, 1 girl killed in Minneapolis crash after they were hit by a driver who was evading police

All 5 were pronounced dead at the scene

A police car with flashing lights is shown in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. (File photo)

Farnworth chides Surrey for not sharing report prior to policing vote

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has not replied to requests for comment

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. (File photo)
Police have confirmed a suspicious device found along railway tracks in Vernon was explosive. The device was found Wednesday afternoon, June 14, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Device found along railway tracks was explosive: Vernon RCMP

It was the second suspicious device found in Vernon this week, but police believe the two are unrelated

Police have confirmed a suspicious device found along railway tracks in Vernon was explosive. The device was found Wednesday afternoon, June 14, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
FILE - New Westminster Police say charges relating to aggravated assault, robbery and assault with a weapon were approved against a 16- and 17-year-old following the April 10 stabbing at Columbia SkyTrain Station. New Westminster Police are pictured during a shooting investigation April 18, 2023. (Shane MacKichan)

2 teens charged in connection with stabbing at B.C. transit station

Police say man was stabbed, woman assaulted at Lower Mainland SkyTrain station

FILE - New Westminster Police say charges relating to aggravated assault, robbery and assault with a weapon were approved against a 16- and 17-year-old following the April 10 stabbing at Columbia SkyTrain Station. New Westminster Police are pictured during a shooting investigation April 18, 2023. (Shane MacKichan)
Police in Abbotsford seized $123,000 in suspected stolen jewelry, bags of suspected drugs and $6,000 cash after stopping a vehicle early Friday morning (June 9). (APD photo)

Police seize $123K worth of suspected stolen jewelry in Abbotsford

Several charges expected after two people stopped in vehicle early Friday morning

Police in Abbotsford seized $123,000 in suspected stolen jewelry, bags of suspected drugs and $6,000 cash after stopping a vehicle early Friday morning (June 9). (APD photo)
Chad Colivas was shot and killed March 21, 2022 in a home on Latimer Street in Abbotsford. Two people have now been charged with his death.

2 charged in 2022 fatal shooting of 41-year-old B.C. man

Man, 22, charged with 2nd-degree murder; woman, 30, charged with manslaughter

Chad Colivas was shot and killed March 21, 2022 in a home on Latimer Street in Abbotsford. Two people have now been charged with his death.
FILE - Officers from Surrey Police Service and Surrey RCMP stand side by side during the November 2021 announcement on the transition plan to SPS from RCMP. (Lauren Collins photo)

Is it time for a B.C. provincial police force as communities grapple with public safety?

Langley Township votes to no longer share RCMP with Langley City, while Surrey’s transition is on hold

FILE - Officers from Surrey Police Service and Surrey RCMP stand side by side during the November 2021 announcement on the transition plan to SPS from RCMP. (Lauren Collins photo)
Video footage captured about a dozen suspects smashing vehicles April 29 on an Abbotsford property. (Screengrab from video)

Abbotsford couple speaks out after large group smashes vehicles on their property

‘We don’t have any problems with anybody,’ say 23-year homeowners

Video footage captured about a dozen suspects smashing vehicles April 29 on an Abbotsford property. (Screengrab from video)
Police in New Westminster, B.C., say two suspects have been charged in the armed kidnapping of a person in the city last month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke

Kamloops, Vernon men charged in New Westminster kidnapping

Hostage rescued in April 25 incident involving armed suspects

Police in New Westminster, B.C., say two suspects have been charged in the armed kidnapping of a person in the city last month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
Video footage captured about a dozen suspects smashing vehicles April 29 on an Abbotsford property. (Screengrab from video)

VIDEO: Suspects use swords, axes and bats to smash vehicles in Abbotsford driveway

Police release footage of a dozen men vandalizing cars on April 29

Video footage captured about a dozen suspects smashing vehicles April 29 on an Abbotsford property. (Screengrab from video)
A Black Montreal man is suing Montreal police and two officers after being handcuffed and arbitrarily detained after officers suspected he had stolen his own car. A Montreal police badge is shown during a news conference in Montreal, Thursday, August 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Black Montrealer sues police after being handcuffed over suspected theft of own car

Brice Dossa alleges he was victim of racial profiling, illegal arrest and excessive force

A Black Montreal man is suing Montreal police and two officers after being handcuffed and arbitrarily detained after officers suspected he had stolen his own car. A Montreal police badge is shown during a news conference in Montreal, Thursday, August 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Margie Gray arrives for the first day of a coroner’s inquest into the beating death of her son, Myles Gray, who died following a confrontation with several police officers in 2015, in Burnaby, B.C., on April 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Myles Gray’s mother says conclusion of B.C. coroner’s inquest marks end of chapter

‘People know the truth and that to me is a huge, huge piece’

Margie Gray arrives for the first day of a coroner’s inquest into the beating death of her son, Myles Gray, who died following a confrontation with several police officers in 2015, in Burnaby, B.C., on April 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck