Email suggests VPD could’ve foreseen Stanley Cup Riot
Posted September 22, 2011 7:45 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver’s top cop has claimed police had no advance warning that a riot would occur following Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, but an internal email seems to indicate otherwise.
The email was sent by a senior staff member with the Liquor Control Branch. Karen Ayers mentions a conference call that included Deputy Chief Doug Lepard and other police officers. She also talks about escalating problems, intoxication, and violence the day before the riot happened.
Following the riot review, VPD chief Jim Chu said: “I agree in hindsight, we should’ve had more police officers. If I knew there was going to be a riot I would’ve deployed way more police officers.”
The VPD also wanted to delay the announcement about the early liquor store closures but the Liquor Branch overrode that decision and issued a news release the day before Game 7 that stores would be closing at 4 p.m.
