After a four-months-and-counting investigation that involved scores of officers and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Vancouver police finally got around to recommending charges in connection with the 2011 Stanley Cup riot.
Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu said Monday that a total of 163 charges are being recommended by police against 60 suspected rioters. And the news came with the promise of hundreds more to come.
The announcement follows what the police chief vowed is the most extensive criminal probe ever launched by his department. More than 5,000 hours of digital imagery were viewed by 50 forensic analysts representing 40 law-enforcement agencies from across North America and the United Kingdom.
But what Chief Chu could not guarantee is that those who might one day face charges will be dealt with in the harshest terms possible. The fact is, the chances of that happening are remote, at least for the vast majority of those who will eventually be called to stand trial for their actions.
Few will be left to rot in jail, as many would like to see. Judges can't have two sets of rules in their courtroom – a severe one for rioters and another for the rest of the criminal population charged with similar offences. That is why the final disposition of the majority of these cases is sure to infuriate many.
While the department's pursuit of those who set police cars ablaze and ransacked downtown department stores has certainly been professional and thorough, it must be weighed against the opportunity it lost to make a bold statement in the immediate days and weeks after the event by coming down hard on some of the worst perpetrators.
In contrast, more than 1,000 charges were laid in London in the days following summer rioting there.
The police are certainly sensitive to criticism that the investigation has taken too long. And they are well aware people are angry there wasn't swifter justice for at least some of the drunken louts who caused millions of dollars in damage the night of June 15.
No one has been under the gun more than Chief Chu, who spent much of his news conference rationalizing the cautious, fastidious approach the riot probe has taken.
"We believe the public expects more from the police," he said. "We believe the community supports the independence of the police and our professional judgment to conduct thorough investigations, not cut corners in order to satisfy the vocal criticisms of a few."
To his point, the chief trotted out examples of rioters who turned themselves in early on, admitting to a single criminal act. But because of the thoroughness of the investigation, he said, several additional charges were laid against many of these same people.
Of course, the VPD has only recommended charges. Although given that a squad of government prosecutors has been working with the Integrated Riot Investigation Team, it's hard to imagine the Crown not pressing ahead with virtually all of them. About 70 per cent of the first 60 charged were suspects who turned themselves in.
But the charges, when they are finally laid, are only half the battle. The second part of this story happens in the courtroom, where many of the accused will be in the company of high-priced legal representatives. It's fine to spend months in the name of the most exhaustive investigation of all time. But it won't mean a whole lot if, in the end, an accused cops a plea and walks away with probation and a fine.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark may want all the rioters to see the inside of a jail cell. It certainly sounds good to voters. But her opinions matter little in this case. There is the law to consider. And there are also practical considerations to be weighed, such as the merit of throwing university students and others with no previous criminal record in jail for several months versus having them pay the price for their actions in other ways that don't permanently jeopardize their futures.
That will be for a judge to decide, not the Premier.
As much as light, riot-related sentences will irritate many, they will be unavoidable. Many of the rioters will not suffer the full consequences of the law – nor should they. They should be treated based on evidence, circumstance and precedent.
In other words, like most others entering the judicial system.
The police have certainly done a comprehensive job with their investigation. But when it's all said and done, there will be many asking if it was worth all the time and effort.
Gary Mason