Like many Vancouverites, Bob Nelles was disgusted when rioters ransacked downtown businesses and property last June after the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Boston Bruins at Rogers Arena.
At the time, Nelles, 76, was in Quebec City on vacation.
I was having difficulty believing the television coverage, he recalled. I thought, How can that be happening? We did so well with the Olympics and even going back to Expo 86, Vancouver was the place to be. So to have the riot happen was really a black eye.
Ten months later, Nelles hasnt given up on the Vancouver Police Departments ongoing investigation to capture those people responsible for the mayhem, which caused $2.7 million in damages to businesses.
In fact, the retired chartered accountant is doing his part by volunteering to hand out posters of suspected rioters to the public. On Thursday morning, Nelles stood at Georgia and Richards to do just that.
I think most people would like to see the people who caused the disturbance be brought to justice, said Nelles, who is a regular volunteer at the West End-Coal Harbour community policing centre and helped distribute the first batch of posters last November.
Nelles was among more than 300 volunteers working with the VPD to circulate another 70,000 posters throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. Police Chief Jim Chu kicked off the drive with the volunteers.
I can tell you that when we mentioned that we wanted to do this poster distribution, the support from volunteers was overwhelming, said Chu, outside the Blenz coffee shop at Georgia and Richards that was heavily damaged in the riot.
Chu said 70 police officers were involved in the distribution of posters, which feature photographs of 100 suspects. Five of the suspects are considered the VPDs most wanted for their alleged beating of Good Samaritan Robert Mackay in front of the Bay the night of the riot.
Chu said 15 suspects were involved in the attack on Mackay, who attempted to fend off rioters from doing further damage to the Bay, which had its windows smashed out and merchandise stolen. So far, police identified 10 of the 15 suspects, three of whom have been charged, another three are facing charges and four are under active investigation.
The Vancouver Police Foundation paid for the posters. The first batch cost $7,770 and the second $14,000 for a total of $21,770. The foundation also raised $300,000 after the riot to provide the VPD with at least 300 grab-and-go kits for officers, which contain protective helmets, shin pads, elbow pads and gloves. Of the 500 officers working the night of the riot, only 150 were wearing helmets.
To date, the VPD has recommended 432 charges against 150 suspects, 84 per cent of whom are not from Vancouver. The Crown prosecution team working with riot investigators has approved 177 charges against 67 people.
We are committed to holding as many rioters as possible accountable for the carnage and mayhem they committed, said Chu, reiterating a commitment he has made several times since the riot. We owe that to the victims, we also owe it to the outraged citizens of Vancouver.
So far, only one of the suspects charged with participating in the riot has been sentenced. Ryan Dickinson was given a 17-month jail term for his part in destroying two unmarked police cars and throwing a mannequin and newspaper box into a Black and Lee Tuxedo shop. The judge also took into account Dickinsons curfew violation from an earlier charge on the night of the riot.
mhowell@vancourier.com
Twitter: @Howellings
