ORN Members Approached by 2010 Security

An account by a member of the Olympic Resistance Network (ORN) describing an attempt by police working with the Vancouver Integrated Security Unit (VISU) to gather information. The incident occurred after ORN members made public presentations against proposed by-law amendments at Vancouver City Hall on Thurs. Jan. 22, 2009.

Coming out of City Hall yesterday, the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security
Unit introduced themselves to a couple of us in a very strange way. Three
guys in suits came up, as we were exiting the building, almost blocking
the stairs out and glad handed, sweet talked and [distributed] business cards
in a very friendly way. They said they wanted to open the lines of
dialogue and communication, or some such thing. I said that I couldn’t
speak to them and in the unlikely event that any “communication” is to
occur, it would have to come from the group, who would have to discuss it
all first. They said they had been at this for 2 months, had approached
lost of groups (non named specifically) and that most said just what I
had.

There is nothing to be gained from meeting with these people, and I think
ORN should not do so as a group or as individuals. Meeting with VISU or
any cops to try to eek out intelligence is universally stupid and usually
results in the reverse of what the activists had intended.

I suggest responding to them and simply stating that if they want to talk
to anybody, they should do so by holding the security consultation
meetings with communities that were promised in the 2010 bid, that they be
open to all groups and individuals, including the media. I suggest we let
this response be known by other groups. Yesterday, city council passed a
month8in “urging” Vanoc to hold these promised consultations.

Anyway, these three cops were in the Council chambers for the debate, and
don’t all look like cops.

The VISU cops are (note their positions / titles):

Constable David Manchard
Aboriginal Liaison, Community Relations Group
Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit
Vancouver Police Department

Constable J.G. (Jeff) Chartland
Aboriginal Liaison Unit
Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit
RCMP

David Mcklusky
Activist Liaison, Community Relations Group
Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit
RCMP