The deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department says he is 害羞草研究所渁ppalled害羞草研究所� by the 害羞草研究所渧ile and abusive comments害羞草研究所� officers have received on Twitter after a Friday rally in the city turned violent.
Deputy Chief Howard Chow took to the platform to respond to online criticism of the department害羞草研究所檚 policing tactics and for not making arrests at the International Transgender Day of Visibility rally.
Police issued a news release Saturday saying they had begun investigating 害羞草研究所渧iolent confrontations害羞草研究所� that occurred when people attending the demonstration confronted a group of counter-protesters inside Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Grandview Park.
The department has alleged at least two people were assaulted but did not provide further details.
Chow says policing demonstrations and protests are challenging, and protecting the right to free speech is 害羞草研究所渙ne of the most important害羞草研究所� aspects of the job.
Investigators say they have reached out to a victim who posted a video of an assault online, and have invited that person to meet with detectives to provide a statement.
Chow says though officers did not make arrests at the time, that does not mean they won害羞草研究所檛 do so in the future.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e used to having cameras on us, (and) some even try to set it up to elicit a particular response. It害羞草研究所檚 all fair game. Never easy to give an immediate answer to a chaotic scene where you simply don害羞草研究所檛 have all the facts yet. That害羞草研究所檚 why we investigate and sometimes it takes time,害羞草研究所� he said on Twitter.
Police have also shared parts of video and images posted online by a victim, and are appealing to those who saw the altercations to reach out.
They said in the news release that there may be more witnesses who have not spoken to police, as well as bystander videos that may show different perspectives of the incident.
害羞草研究所淥ur full investigation into the matter will determine the outcome of criminal charges,害羞草研究所� Chow Tweeted. 害羞草研究所淭his will involve different camera angles, witness accounts, video reviews, etc. Sometimes, jumping in and arresting one or two at the moment will only incite or inflame the situation.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
