Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, along with police and fire chiefs, is set to provide an important update this afternoon on the fate of a specialized police task force aimed at improving safety in the city’s downtown area.
Back in February, Mayor Sim and Vancouver Police Department Chief Adam Palmer introduced ‘Task Force Barrage’, a major $5 million initiative that deployed additional officers to combat violence, organized crime, and criminal activities in the city.
A recent police briefing in May disclosed that the initial funding of $5 million was intended to support the task force for only six months. As that deadline has now passed, Mayor Sim, Chief Steve Rai, and Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Chief Karen Frye are scheduled to address the public at 1 p.m.
The Gastown Business Improvement Association has shown support for extending the task force, noting that it has enhanced the sense of safety for customers and encouraged more people to visit the area.
However, critics argue that the task force is more reactive than preventive, potentially causing harm to vulnerable residents in the Downtown Eastside community.
According to VPD updates, ‘Task Force Barrage’ has disrupted violent criminal networks and led to a decrease in overall crime rates compared to the previous year.