VPD Operation Wheelchair Decoy
 

It isn't very often when I openly praise the police, but this is going to be one of the few times when I do. It is a very smart PR move to make the results of this operation public, and the VPD Community & Public Affairs Section has definitely scored some brownie points.

But the biggest kudos belongs to the fine folks of DTES. I tip my hat off to these fine, compassionate folks who go out of their way to look after those in their community.

I watch the TV show "The Beat" and they did something like this before. They had a professional make up artist make one of the staff sergeants look like a old homeless guy to try to get the people who are robbing people down there.

If I were a cop, I can't imagine myself working the DTES beat. Nothing but respect for the officers who work that beat.

^I remember i met one of the guys who routinely appeared on The Beat. He has a blog too but I don't think he updates it anymore.

Anyways, I told him I really enjoyed the show and asked if there would be more episodes. He said that some higher-ups didn't necessarily agree with it and I think that's what ultimately caused it's end.

This was about 3 years ago.

Eastside Stories: Diary of a Vancouver Beat Cop