The prisoner's head is propped up by his ponytail to face the camera, his arms crossed in front, and surrounding him are four police officers, smiling for the camera.
There are five people in the photograph, four police officers and prisoner Martin James Weigelt, whom they have just captured. Mr. Weigelt has an abrasion on the side of his right cheek, a result of his scuffle with the officers who arrested him in November, police say. His face was pressed to the ground, causing bruising and a rash.
Yesterday, Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham, who had promised an investigation into the photograph, announced that the officers' actions were not malicious, just misguided.
"Our people did a bad thing," he said. "The members were simply proud and excited that they had captured this man who posed a threat to the public. It did not justify the taking of this kind of photo."
He said the use of force was justified, but the officers were disciplined for taking the picture, which came to light when someone sent an anonymous e-mail -- containing details of the picture -- to a local television station.
The sergeant who had directed the photo be taken, identified as Keiron McConnell, was suspended for three days without pay.
A second officer who played a role in helping to pose the prisoner was suspended for a day without pay. The other two officers received verbal reprimands. The officer who took the photo was not disciplined.
Chief Graham refused to name the officers involved.
Tom Stamatakis, president of the Vancouver police union, said the officers took responsibility for the photo and will not appeal the disciplinary action.
Bruce Brown, the deputy police complaint commissioner, said his office is reviewing the investigation conducted by Vancouver police.
In the photo, Mr. Weigelt, who was arrested near Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Southlands, where he said he was visiting friends, is dressed in a white plastic-and-paper jumpsuit. His clothing had been taken to be examined for forensic evidence after his arrest around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Chief Graham praised the officers and lambasted Mr. Weigelt.
"He's been arrested more than a hundred times and freely admits that for the last 20 years he has made his living by breaking into hundreds of Vancouver businesses and homes. He won't be hard to find. He was arrested two days ago."
In a plea bargain, Mr. Weigelt, 40, received statutory release Jan. 16 for a two-month sentence after pleading guilty to three of six charges in Provincial Court: possession of counterfeit money, possession of break-in tools and possession of crack cocaine. The Crown stayed the other charges. He was arrested this week on drug-trafficking charges, the chief said.
Chief Graham said he decided to release the photo yesterday because it was the right thing to do. Earlier, he had refused to do so, even at Mr. Weigelt's urging.
"We do not shy away from admitting when something wrong is done," he said. "There is no law or regulation that would compel us to release the picture. But I believe strongly in doing the right thing."