Vancouver: Police Chief eyeing ConAir

by Barry Artiste | October 20, 2007 at 08:09 am

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Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

ConAir, a movie made famous in 1997, with Nicholas Cage, based on the actual ConAir service (without all the blood and gore) implemented by the US. Marshalls may be a dream come true for Vancouver Police looking at sending back criminals after time served and released from prison to their home province. Truly, something whose time has come in ridding us of criminal elements who feel Vancouver is a Mecca for Career Criminals to make their home base. A Coup for Vancouver, a major headache for Police who will actually receive them at the Arrival gate in the Criminals hometown.

VANCOUVER A Vancouver police spokesman clarified today comments made by the police chief during a luncheon speech this week.

Vancouver's new police Chief Jim Chu said Thursday that he's seeking legal advice on the viability of an idea for a credit card dubbed "VPDconair" that would generate airline points for the department to send offenders home to the province where they are wanted.

The chief said Thursday during a luncheon of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association that he's looking at a program called "Home for the Holidays" to pay their air fares back to the provinces they have fled on non-returnable arrest warrants.

"We're not actually starting a Con Air credit card or anything like that," Const. Howard Chow told reporters today.

He said the police chief wants to send back people who have outstanding arrest warrants for serious offences in other parts of the country. Chow said police are frustrated that they daily encounter people on Vancouver's streets with outstanding warrants from other provinces across Canada. He said the warrants are non-returnable, meaning the person can only be arrested within the province where the outstanding charge was laid.

"If we can bring them back to face these charges, that is what the chief is wanting to explore at this stage," Chow explained. "It's something that conceivably can be done but obviously there are some hitches that need to be worked out, but this is something he's taking very seriously."