VPD T-shirt raises trust issues amid protests over police brutality
Posted June 5, 2020 10:24 am.
Last Updated June 5, 2020 7:01 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A T-shirt being sold on the Vancouver Police Department store website has caused a stir amid protests around North America against police brutality.
The shirt reads: “COPS ‘The World’s Largest Street Gang.'”
A Vancouver man tweeted at the police department Thursday, asking how the T-shirt helps him feel safe or trust police in the community.
That spurred others to also express concern, some called the T-shirt “disgusting.”
https://twitter.com/karencward/status/1268721771361865728
The tweet got dozens of likes and retweets, with many surprised that the VPD would sell such a shirt.
The police department responded, saying it doesn’t run the store, but that it would consider the concerns.
“Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. The VPD Store is run by a separate entity called the PMBA, and we will be discussing your concerns with them,” says the tweet.
Hello, Andrew. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. The VPD Store is run by a separate entity called the PMBA, and we will be discussing your concerns with them. https://t.co/OkDVeADMLR
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) June 4, 2020
The T-shirt has since been removed from the website.
Vancouver Police Const. Tania Visintin said Friday the shirt has also been removed from stock.
“The T-shirts are not VPD branded and were first ordered online by the PMBA store clerk for resale eight years ago,” she added.
“The VPD is not responsible for items sold in the store, nor do we get the proceeds from the store.”
We have heard your feedback about specific t-shirts in the PMBA store and have removed those items from our stock.
The t-shirts are not VPD branded items and were ordered online from a third party provider several years ago.
— PMBA Store (@vpdstore) June 5, 2020
Proceeds from purchases made through the VPD store go back to the Police Mutual Benevolent Association, which helps provide for members and their families in times of need where benefits do not exist, according to the police department.
A second rally against racial injustice and police brutality is slated for Vancouver on Friday after thousands protested peacefully last weekend.
Protests in Canada, the U.S., and elsewhere around the world were sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a Caucasian police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for close to nine minutes.
That officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, while three other officers who were at the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting.
All four officers have since been fired.
