Pivot files complaint against Vancouver police chief Jim ChuConfidential information about potential witnesses to Hubbard shooting leaked in email
Vancouver, April 9, 2009 – Pivot Legal Society is filing a complaint against Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu over his improper disclosure of information related to the police shooting death of Michael Vann Hubbard.
The investigation into Hubbard’s death is being conducted by the Abbotsford Police Department. On Saturday, March 28 Chief Chu sent an email to all VPD staff, later published in the Vancouver Sun, in which he described “incontrovertible” video evidence suggesting that the officers responded in self-defence.
Pivot alleges that this evidence should have been in the possession of the Abbottsford Police Department, and that Chu’s email prejudiced the findings of the investigation by contaminating potential witness testimony.
“Chief Chu’s disclosure will colour the evidence of officers who will be witnesses in the investigation of the police shooting death of Michael Vann Hubbard,” according to Paul Nigol, policing campaigner for the Pivot Legal Society.
“This information should properly be in the hands of only the Abbotsford Department until the investigation is complete.”
The family of the slain Mr. Hubbard are extremely upset about what they feel are attempts by the Vancouver Police Department to undermine the investigation.“First Chief Chu says that the investigation is being conducted by an outside agency,” says Ms. Wendy Hubbard, the daughter of Michael Vann Hubbard, “Then he leaks a memo with supposed details of a video that we still haven’t been allowed to watch.”
The investigating Abbottsford Police Department has indicated that it may be willing to provide the video to the family and their counsel but only if they provide a signed non-disclosure agreement stating that they will not discuss the contents of the video publicly.
Vancouver, April 9, 2009 – Pivot Legal Society is filing a complaint against Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu over his improper disclosure of information related to the police shooting death of Michael Vann Hubbard.
The investigation into Hubbard’s death is being conducted by the Abbotsford Police Department. On Saturday, March 28 Chief Chu sent an email to all VPD staff, later published in the Vancouver Sun, in which he described “incontrovertible” video evidence suggesting that the officers responded in self-defence.
Pivot alleges that this evidence should have been in the possession of the Abbottsford Police Department, and that Chu’s email prejudiced the findings of the investigation by contaminating potential witness testimony.
“Chief Chu’s disclosure will colour the evidence of officers who will be witnesses in the investigation of the police shooting death of Michael Vann Hubbard,” according to Paul Nigol, policing campaigner for the Pivot Legal Society.
“This information should properly be in the hands of only the Abbotsford Department until the investigation is complete.”
The family of the slain Mr. Hubbard are extremely upset about what they feel are attempts by the Vancouver Police Department to undermine the investigation.“First Chief Chu says that the investigation is being conducted by an outside agency,” says Ms. Wendy Hubbard, the daughter of Michael Vann Hubbard, “Then he leaks a memo with supposed details of a video that we still haven’t been allowed to watch.”
The investigating Abbottsford Police Department has indicated that it may be willing to provide the video to the family and their counsel but only if they provide a signed non-disclosure agreement stating that they will not discuss the contents of the video publicly.
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