Head of Vancouver Police Union shares 'F*** the DTES grifters' image on Twitter
The president of the Vancouver Police Union is facing backlash for a social media image he shared over the weekend that reads, "F*** the DTES grifters."
Ralph Kaisers' Twitter post was a response to two other images shared by the Defund 604 Network last week showing a banner hanging over the Georgia Viaduct.
That banner, hung after the Vancouver Police Department released a widely criticized audit of social services, said: "F*** the VPD, all power to the DTES."
Kaisers posted a doctored image of the banner two days later, which he said was provided by an anonymous citizen. Below the line about "grifters," the doctored banner read, "power to the working class."
Dozens of people responded to Kaisers’ tweet, most slamming the union president’s decision to fire back at the original post. Some called for his resignation.
“This is beyond the pale,” wrote Meaghan Duthie. “Is this how you build relationships (with) the DTES community?”
CTV News has reached out to Kaisers to ask what the doctored message means to him, and why he decided to share it with the public. This story will be updated if a response is received.
Some who work in the Downtown Eastside felt Kaiser's decision to engage with the post in that way risked deepening divisions in a neighbourhood grappling with serious life-and-death problems.
"I just feel like it's trying to pit the community against each other," said Sarah Blyth, former park board chair and co-founder of the Overdose Prevention Society.
"Everybody's struggling right now so everybody's upset, and I just think he needs to rise above it."
Given the power held by police – including a limited ability to use deadly force – some critics argue it's vitally important that departments accept criticism and accountability.
And while some of that criticism may be broad and even unfair, Blyth argued that engaging in "Twitter flame wars" does nothing to promote reasonable discourse, or help the people police are paid to serve.
"Ralph in particular, but all of them need to be better than that. Like, grow up a bit," Blyth said. "It's weird that they snap back the way they do. It's not professional – it seems very personal."
Public tensions ran high in the lead-up to the 2022 municipal election, which saw many candidates focusing their campaign messaging on the city’s overlapping problems of crime, homelessness and drug use, and during which Kaisers' union controversially decided to endorse a mayoral candidate for the first time ever.
Now that the new ABC Vancouver-led council has started their work at city hall, and with David Eby being sworn in as B.C.'s next NDP premier later this month, Blyth said she's hopeful all the government agencies, non-profits and charities with a vested interest in helping the troubled Downtown Eastside neighbourhood will work together to achieve their common goals.
"It's time to stop with all this politics," she said. "Everyone knows that elections get a bit heated. The election's over now. Endorsements don't mean you run the government. So now we've got to work together – everybody does – to make a better city for everyone, because a lot of people are suffering."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.