Vancouver mayor says province, feds need to do more to improve public safety

After two terrifying attacks in downtown Vancouver Wednesday morning, the mayor of Vancouver explained the city is doing what it can to ensure public safety and it is up to the federal and provincial governments to do more.

In a statement after the assaults, which left one man dead and another seriously injured, Mayor Ken Sim said everyone in Vancouver deserves to feel safe.

“I want to thank the Vancouver Police Department and first responders for their swift action,” he said. “We have taken important steps to strengthen public safety, but we still face gaps that require action and funding beyond the municipal level.”

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Sim did not elaborate on those steps but seemed to refer to the hiring of 100 new police officers and a number of mental health nurses meant to help assess and manage non-emergency and crisis situations, though far fewer nurses have been brought on than was promised during Sim’s election campaign.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sim said it is not in the City of Vancouver’s “wheelhouse” to deal with the root causes of violent attacks.

“We need the provincial and federal governments to further address these gaps when it comes to public safety and the mental health crisis we’re facing,” Sim continued.

“The province has already demonstrated their willingness to be partners when it comes to public safety by pivoting on policy that was not working, specifically decriminalization. Now we need to pivot on how we deal with mental health,” Sim stated.

“Simply put, significant changes need to happen. The federal government has to be part of this conversation as well, especially when it comes to tackling repeat offenders and the mental health crisis which is being experienced by every town and city across our country.”

The suspect arrested in yesterday’s attacks was on probation and has a long history of mental health-related incidents, according to police.

That includes prior convictions for assault and assault causing bodily harm.

A 34-year-old White Rock resident remains in custody related to what the Vancouver Police Department is treating as “unprovoked stranger attacks.”

The VPD explained its officers responded to reports of an attack near Cathedral Square at Richards and Dunsmuir streets downtown just after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

When police arrived, they found a man in his 50s “who had been attacked with a knife, was bleeding from the head, and had suffered a severed hand. The man was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and is expected to survive.”

Just moments later, police shared that they were called to West Georgia and Hamilton streets after reports that a second man had been attacked.

“Despite efforts to save his life, the man died at the scene. The victim’s identity and age have not yet been confirmed,” Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement.
Police later said he appeared to be approximately 70 years old.

–With files from Charlie Carey and Charles Brockman.