Yellow Jackets
They stroll the streets and alleys adorned in their bright yellow security jackets – but they’re not Police Officers, they’re members of a private security firm hired to patrol the neighbourhood. Despite their mandate from the local business association that hired them, they have absolutely no legal authority, cannot lawfully touch another person, ask them questions, ask them for identification, or ask them to ‘move along’ when on public property. But you see, around here the law might as well be written on wet toilet paper if you don’t look like the sort of person that’s contributing to the neighbourhood’s ‘new look’. That would be why private security personnel are able to walk the streets as if they’re Police Officers and enforce ‘rules’ that are in complete violation of the Charter rights of others.
Now, some of you might view this subject as mildly unimportant, but it is anything but. If, in a bad part of town that is in the midst of gentrification, the homeless and impoverished can be ‘handled’ by private security personnel, what’s next? Better yet, who’s next?
The Vancouver Police Department exists for a reason, and the outsourcing of security by local business associations is, in truth, a massively dangerous precedent. What is even more concerning is that the authorities turn a blind eye to it and, at times, even capitalize on it.
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December 16th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Isn’t there some kind of resolution before city council about this that hasn’t even been passed yet, or am I thinking of something else?
December 16th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Do they carry guns, billy clubs, etc? Just curious.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Wait a few years and the guys in yellow jackets will be making enough profit to be acquired by Blackwater.
Does anyone stand for anything that doesn’t come with a pay stub anymore?
December 16th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I sat here for quite a while trying to think of what to say in regards to the security guards. In the end, nothing seemed quite fitting for the situation. I guess I just don’t know how to voice my opinion on that kind of corruption. I have always thought that the police were out to protect all citizens, not just the ones that fit a certain image. Too bad that the people who are supposed to protect you look away when injustices are happening that conveniently benefit themselves….too bad.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I have often wondered if those security guys have any legal authority.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I am interested in the reactions of the people who live in the neighbourhood. Not the merchants, etc, but the people who are the target of the ’security professionals’.
Also, I am wondering if there are any other peolple, Matthew that feel this is somewhat excessive…
on a side note, this entry leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth because of the recent news coverage of the blackwater group. These security people are mercenaries on a smaller scale.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Good colour for the uniforms don’tcha think!
December 16th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
They’ve just been granted the “go ahead” contract and, according to city Councillor Kim Capri, part of their mandate will be to help address public disorder and support the goals and objectives of Project Civil City in regards to the open drug market.
Now , from what I can gather, Project Civil City is directly linked to the 2010 games and their #1 target is listed as “eliminating homelessness” , with at least a 50% reduction by 2010. It seems they’re forgetting about that particular issue and moving directly to the other issues, which are panhandling, drugs, public nuisance and annoyance. I wonder if they ever make the connection that focusing on the homeless issue would probably result in some of the other stuff taking care of itself.
But this is how they’ll deal with it…by hiring thugs to take care of business. I don’t think it’s the best answer and I’m quite sure that it only proves that we’re not an empathetic, caring city at all. We’re more concerned with image than anything and that’s a sad statement of things.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Hmm, it’s weird that I just read this because today I was on Granville and there was a man selling DTES Calendars on the street and some man in one of these yellow security jackets was all over him, being completely demeaning and yelling at him to get off the sidewalk. It was brutal, and heart breaking.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
That is bullshit, someone should report him.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
I guess that’s how you handle “disorderly” calendar sellers. Awful - give some people power….
December 16th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
OK, I am really pissed off now, after hearing about the calendar incident. Let city hall know How you feel. Maybe boycott businesses that hire these guys.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
There’s always the security guards that let the “power” or lack-there-of get to their heads. It would seem these guys are just fulfilling a contract and if that’s the case, I would almost expect them to be sitting on a chair on the sidewalk instead of yelling at someone.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
“The Vancouver Police Department exists for a reason, and the outsourcing of security by local business associations is, in truth, a massively dangerous precedent.”
-I was thinking the same thing.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
maybe they should give them tasers
December 16th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Are we talking two different things? I know there was something on the news a few days ago about the “ambassadors” who wear red jackets, then there are the private security guys you see in yellow, especially at banks.
I know the ambassadors have been getting some flack with the sole source contracting over $700k per year and the police union says that could have gone to a lot of man power.
I know when I used to work downtown you’d see the guys in yellow harassing/chasing those out of gastown who were asking for change. I remember one acting all macho chasing this one guy out and I called him on it, telling him his actions are far more embarassing to tourists than someone asking for change.
This city needs a serious makeover. I think the Olympics has gone to everyone’s head. A friend told me last week about one of the olympic dude’s $20 million house. How much of that is at taxpayer expense?
I love watching the Olympics but not at the expense of our soul.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:13 am
[quote comment="35765"]maybe they should give them tasers[/quote]
HA! Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha. You’re a fricken’ genius, as usual. Arse.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:06 am
i cant imagine where the money spent on private security could be better spent on something else…
can you?
Perhaps affordable housing or improved drug and alcohol/mental health treatment facilities…?
nah… no money in that…
December 17th, 2007 at 3:16 am
[quote comment="35765"]maybe they should give them tasers[/quote]
That was my first smart ass thought….and then i thought- maybe they should be dressed in pink (jackets) and carry around whistles to look like the clowns they are…
Reading about that poor guy who got harassed for selling calendars made me livid! IN no way, shape or form does anyone, regardless of their authority or lack there- have the right to treat another human being in that fashion. I mean, this person is trying to make some extra income- it’s not like he’s selling crack to kids on the corner.
You know what’s next right? THe situation will get out of hand when the “power” these rent-a-cops think they have been given, or are entitled to becomes “threatened”. Most likely, at some point- someone will tell them where to stick their whistle and the incident will most likely escalate to a point where the “offender” gets assaulted or worse.
I agree with the individual who said this should be addressed to city hall- though i feel the cries of concern will fall on deaf ears. I mean everything in this town seems to be moving in a backward fashion rather than forward.
Instead of spending a bit of money to help build low cost housing or help the impoverished seek mental/addiction councelling, money is going to increasing government salaries and building bigwhigs 20 million dollar homes. HHHmmmm….don’t actually help improve the lives of others, so they can inturn, positively contribute to society- just sweep them under a rug and shake them out of the streets and into the next town.
And for god sakes, don’t make the police do their own work- pay a rent-a cop to do it for them. At this point I don’t know who I would rather trust, quite frankly. They may both just be on par with eachother in my books these days.
You are totally right in saying that the goverment and the authorities are capitalizing on all of this… The rich are getting richer and the poorer and getting poorer, and so the gap widens.
So all and all- a quick “solution” to a long term crisis…Just like a fresh coat of paint. Paint the city pretty to impress while the walls inside are rotting down… I hope I’m not inside when the whole thing comes crashing down.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:58 am
Probably some sort of ‘citizens arrest’ loop-hole?
December 17th, 2007 at 6:50 am
wow… how long until they are throwing tear gas…or bullits
December 17th, 2007 at 8:18 am
[quote comment="35756"] part of their mandate will be to help address public disorder[/quote]
Did she really say that with a straight face? This isn’t Basra or Grosnyy or Darfur we’re talking about, it’s Vancouver.
As for the drug issue, I notice the government invariably bullies those who can’t defend themselves rather than confront the large banks and chemical suppliers, which are both instrumental in the drug trade.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I wonder how many of the shits on Vancouver’s city council were privately thanking Picton for personally addressing the homelessness issue, one woman at a time?
I can’t wait to see these yellow goons harass the wrong person in error, just to see the reality of it all hit the fan.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:21 am
While a movie was being filmed, an individual was approached by two “thugs” and was told to vacate the area, so he did. It was a dark area of Gas Town, so he could not see anything to make him think otherwise. He later returned to find out what was going on, as he suspected they were thugs and something bad was going down.
Turns out those two “thugs” came back, roughed-up the guy, and left.
After some research, the “thugs” were actually private security guards for a film company.
While filing a complaint, and several followups with VPD, nothing was done. He filed complaints with the security company and nothing was done. Both VPD and the security company told him to hit the road.
This article was in the Georgia Straight back in September.
One can only conclude that with outsourcing to private security, our proper police are becoming lazy. With overtime expenses ranging from $67/hr to $104/hr (source: article in 24 this past summer with regards to Granville Street night scene), one would think the police are trying to cut back in spending, or just getting lazy!
It is their job to serve and protect! It is their job to uphold the law and ensure everyone has their full rights!
It is most unfortunate that the police see counseling as something to look down upon in their brotherhood. (source: a counselor that works with police) If the officers, who see some very horrible things, albeit not every day, were able to actually discuss their issues, perhaps we’d have less apathy, less incidents of abuse of power, and the public would have more respect. The latter would result from the change in attitude of many of the police officers who act as though they are bouncers at a dive bar.
If our letters and signatures can push our PM to break his promises to the oil companies (too bad the two electric cars made here in Canada can’t go anywhere because the oil companies have Transport Canada in their pocket), maybe we can petition to change the police too! Why stop there, let’s get after the “national security” leaders (we could start by removing Stockwell Day from power).
December 17th, 2007 at 10:40 am
It is indeed a slippery slope.
It’s a slow turn to Facism. Baby steps really.
What company do these thugs work for? Start there. Email.phone, show up at their office. Use your camera phones. Be a Witness.
Refuse to do business with the companies that employ these people. Make a point off actually telling them why. The Ol’ Mighty Dollar speakes volumes.
Someone once said “Evil is banal”
Indeed, it can be.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:41 am
me (plus) security guards @ venues about three times this year (equals) no fun :-(
December 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Keep an eye on them; on public property, the have no legal standing to touch anyone (outside of self-defense, of course), and I know this because I took the two-week course that is mandatory for all contract private security guards several years ago. The first time one of them lays a hand on someone on public property, sue the pants off them, the contracted company, and the agency that hired the contracted company. And charge the individual guard(s) with assault. Get the word out to the streets that these guards can yell at people to move until they’re blue in the face, but without a proper, Criminal Code recognized legislated mandate, no one on public property has any obligation or need to listen to a word they say. If a person truly is a “vagrant”, or “loitering”, make the guards call the police, same as any shopkeeper would have had to do in the first place. Just remember that outside of private property, a security guard has no more “authority” than any other citizen.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
As I don’t live in Vancouver, all I can comment on is my own experiences. Being that I do spend all my vacations in Van., and will use pretty much any excuse to go hang out, I know the area pretty well. I don’t have a car, so I spend the majority of my time just wandering, and somehow end up on Hastings, and other “bad areas” of town. You know what? I have yet to have any problems being hassled or harrassed by the countless men and women who unfortunately, for whatever reason, have to call these areas home. And as was stated above by “Frozen Tex” above, if there is someone causing a disturbance, it should be handled by the “proper authorities”, not by some Blackwater wannabes…
It’s not as if there Christmas wish as a child was to have to live their lives this way. They don’t need more hassles, they need help. And if the “yellow jackets” are not willing to do that…..then just leave them the fuck alone.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I’ve spent enough time in gastown to have chatted with these security guys a few times (there are only a few of them so they know all the locals, those with homes and those without) and they seem to be nice guys actually. Just wanted to mention that as a lot of commenters here seem to be jumping to the conclusion that these are macho power hungry bouncer type guys, where as the ones I’ve met have been regular nice guys just earning a living. They help tourists, hold doors for people, and try to keep things under control and get people out of the area who are causing problems.
The regular homeless people I’ve talked to in the area have been nice as well and there are some I say hi to and give a few bucks to every time I’m in the area. As far as I’ve seen security has no issue with these guys and leaved them alone entirely. Unfortunately some of the homeless people in the area are not nice. There are some that regularly try to steal from people, harass and yell at them, etc.
I’ve been on a patio at street level and had one homeless woman go around asking at each table for money, smokes, etc., then proceed to yell at those who wouldn’t give her anything, and then started grabbing things off tables and ran away. These types of people the security guards are not nice to, and tell them to get out of the area, and call in VPD if needed.
Just wanted to share as in my experience they are not “blackwater wannabes” “goons” “thugs” or guys on power trips at all, as assumed above. It is a tough situation for everyone. The residents, the homeless, the businesses, tourists and tourism industry I guess, VDP, and the city. Private security is obviously not the perfect solution, but it is what the businesses have come up with I suppose. Is the real root of the problem the city? VPD? federal gov’t? I think we should channel our frustrations and efforts farther up the ladder than the guys hired to patrol the streets.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
All I want to know is what society proposes these unfortunate individuals should do with themselves?
December 17th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
almost sounds like the “anti-aggressive panhandling” law winnipeg wants to enforce for downtown
December 17th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I hope you’re right, coaxial. I sincerely hope you are. I agree with you about going farther up the ladder. These guys are just workers making a living. The problem is: as they are private they are not accountable, even though they are patrolling public streets. Thus, if they behave aggressively toward homeless people, they can’t be held to account for their actions. What exactly is their purpose, to enforce the criminal code? I though only the police could do that. To act as peacekeepers? OK, but then what’s their code of conduct, and again, how can they be held accountable?
December 18th, 2007 at 5:40 am
This is exactly the situation of our neighbourhood just south of downtown Montreal. We live in a gentrified neighbourhood which is reported to have the highest concentration of low income housing on the island.
With a recent increase in drug dealing, prostitution and gun violence a public forum was held by our borough mayor, chief of the local police station and community leaders. Surprisingly over 200 people showed up from the half million dollar condo owners, townhouse owners like ourselves, and the majority low income population. There was daycare available and everyone had a chance to speak. This was an example of a positive response to a gentrified community and the problems that come with it.
That being said our ‘hood is now being patrolled by a private security company. My husband usually sees them out later at night while walking the dog and has not witnessed and adverse goings on nor have we heard any thing negative since they’ve been out. I agree though as to questioning the real reason for these rent-a-cops. Are they to rough up the locals with no dirt on the real cops or are our police forces so stretched and underfunded.
We love our little neighbouhood and are happy to raise our kids here despite the negative light and problem we are a thriving and diverse little community. A real thorn in my side in regard to police priority and I’m dying to address is the patrol car that sits and waits to ticket dog owners who let their dogs off leash along the Lachine Canal which is actually federal land- and when i say land, its just that a big patch of grass where the doggies don’t bother anyone. Jurisdiction problem much? I’m waiting for the day we are ticketed to point him back down the street to give a lift to homeless guy to a shelter or pick up the dealer on his red bike in the park where my kids play.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:00 am
“enforce ‘rules’ that are in complete violation of the Charter rights of others”
How are these Security Officers violating the rights of others? They are there to be a deterrent to crime not to enforce it.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:10 am
[quote comment="35813"]I’ve spent enough time in gastown to have chatted with these security guys a few times (there are only a few of them so they know all the locals, those with homes and those without) and they seem to be nice guys actually. Just wanted to mention that as a lot of commenters here seem to be jumping to the conclusion that these are macho power hungry bouncer type guys, where as the ones I’ve met have been regular nice guys just earning a living. They help tourists, hold doors for people, and try to keep things under control and get people out of the area who are causing problems.
The regular homeless people I’ve talked to in the area have been nice as well and there are some I say hi to and give a few bucks to every time I’m in the area. As far as I’ve seen security has no issue with these guys and leaved them alone entirely. Unfortunately some of the homeless people in the area are not nice. There are some that regularly try to steal from people, harass and yell at them, etc.
I’ve been on a patio at street level and had one homeless woman go around asking at each table for money, smokes, etc., then proceed to yell at those who wouldn’t give her anything, and then started grabbing things off tables and ran away. These types of people the security guards are not nice to, and tell them to get out of the area, and call in VPD if needed.
Just wanted to share as in my experience they are not “blackwater wannabes” “goons” “thugs” or guys on power trips at all, as assumed above. It is a tough situation for everyone. The residents, the homeless, the businesses, tourists and tourism industry I guess, VDP, and the city. Private security is obviously not the perfect solution, but it is what the businesses have come up with I suppose. Is the real root of the problem the city? VPD? federal gov’t? I think we should channel our frustrations and efforts farther up the ladder than the guys hired to patrol the streets.[/quote]
You’ve been lucky, you’ve never seen the ugly side of the “security” people, that’s why!
If you have, if you’ve heard the stories, if you’ve seen what they do, then you’d understand that while not all, and we didn’t say all, many (large enough to cause alarm) are of the power hungry type. This is the same for the RCMP and VPD. Lately, as in the past 10 years, there have been increasing numbers of power hungry and disrespectful attitudes towards citizens by those in “power”, such as VPD and private security.
Many, not all, have this attitude that almost everyone is scum and filth, and it is their job to clean up the area. You’ve just been lucky enough to not see these people when they are out and about.
Did you see the fireworks? Did you see how rude many of the motorcyclist police officers were on their loud speakers? They have an attitude, lacking patience and they don’t tolerate anything. You cannot be that way and have the public trust and respect you.
I’ve witnessed far too many incidents where the police or sky train police or security guards walk around and treat people with little respect. You actually can be a “take no crap” person who is also respectful and polite, but many do not seem to have this ability. At which point they should leave and go to a different job.
You cannot interact with the public that way.
December 18th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Once again comments made, by Matt that I dont agree with fully. First off some security guards, do abuse the power they have, or seem to think they have. Let’s not forget that must of the public is scared or doesnt like being around homeless people. Is that right? no. Thats how some peoiple feel, so the security guards are just doing there jobs. As in every profession there is always a few bad apples. Buisness hiring security is a great thing, the police cant be everywhere. So if something happens or goes wrong the security guard job is to phone the police. Sometimes Matt’s views are, so anti everything, the people on here just agree with everything he has too say.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
It seems to me that most people writing on this site are indeed cynical (who isn’t, these days?) but are not skeptical. It’s one thing to believe the worst about a situation (or people, or gov’t, or security) but it is an entirely different thing to look into it and determine for yourself.
It might be a good thing that these security guards are there; policing resources are stretched to the max and any of these “Order Maintenance” responsibilities are of the lowest priority. The police can’t do it all.
Putting more money into counselling, programs, low-income housing is always a nice answer but what does it really mean? Are these opportunities not there? Is it so hard to believe that some people are just beyond help?
And as for the police being rude and impolite, well, they truly should remain professional but I kinda get where they’re coming from sometimes, after all, they’re only human.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Low income housing and other programs would allow homeless people the opportunity to clean themselves up and make themselves presentable, give them a home base to work from, all of which is are important prerequisites for people looking for work. As to people being “beyond help”, alot of the people you see on the streets are actually, for one reason or another, unemployable.