July 8, 2002

Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner

Suite 900, 111 Melville Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 3V6


Re: Vancouver Police Dept.

Angela Rebecca Jardine-missing person

Police File 98.286097

To Deputy Commissioner Barbara Murphy

In view of recent events I feel it is necessary I re-file my complaint in order it receives a fair and just review. I originally filed a Formal Complaint of Neglect of Duty against the Vancouver Police Missing Persons dept. involving Detective xxxx July 28, 1999.

Under section 54(4) "Public Trust Default" it is defined in the Act as a "disciplinary default" and in the (Code of Professional Conduct Regulation) conduct that "(a) causes or has the potential to cause physical or emotional harm or financial loss to any person, (b) violates any person's dignity, privacy or other rights recognized by law, or (c) is likely to undermine public confidence in the police." Under 4(b) Neglect of Duty for the purposes of Section 4 (1) (b), a police officer commits default of Neglect of Duty if he fails to perform his or her duties as a police officer.

I have further evidence to prove my allegations Detective xxxx and the Vancouver Police Dept. failed to conduct a proper, thorough and timely investigation when my daughter Angela Rebecca Jardine disappeared from the downtown eastside of Vancouver BC on November 20th , 1998. The manner of [this officer] was irresponsible and the thoughtless handling of my daughter's case is of a most serious matter.

My complaint had been Summarily Dismissed November 3rd, 1999 by then acting Police Complaint Commissioner Don Morrison. At that time I had challenged several responses made by Detective xxxx

And requested answers to questions I submitted that were not addressed. In a letter dated December 10, 1999 from the Police Complaint Commissioner Don Morrison he confirmed the decision of the Discipline of Authority to summarily dismiss my complaint [again].

Office of the Complaint Commissioner practice Directive on Summary Dismissal Grounds under section 54 of the Act provides that an investigation into a complaint may not be commenced in the first instance, or that the investigation into a complaint (which is already underway) may be terminated if:

-the complaint is frivolous or vexatious,

-there is no reasonable likelihood that further investigation would prove evidence of a public trust default, or

-the complainant concerns an act or omission that, to the knowledge of the complainant or third party complainant occurred more than 12 months before the complaint was made.

Due to the serious nature of my daughter's disappearance it is my belief Police Complaint Commissioner Don Morrison felt my complaint was frivolous, and not worthy of the time or effort to warrant an investigation. With recent allegations by Don Morrison's [own] administrative staff and his recent resignation I am requesting that an impartial civic board review my complaint. I feel Don Morrison would not have viewed my complaint in an impartial or unprejudiced manner considering he socialized with police officers and chiefs.

Certain events and information have been brought to my attention which I feel merit further investigation. On March 12, 2002 Angela's caseworker (Eileen) informed me she began looking for Angela within 24 hours of her absence. I questioned (Eileen) if Angela had any enemies or people that would want to harm her. Eileen did recall a biker. I know for a fact Detective xxxx did not bother to question Eileen about pertinent details surrounding Angela's disappearance. Detective xxxx did not bother to question Eileen if Angela had any distinguishable features on her body, birthmarks, scars, tattoos would provide a positive form of identification. [I] had to call and inform Detective xxxx of Angela's tattoo and burn scar. Normally this would entail a regular missing person's investigation if Angela indeed have one.

On February 13, 2002 I was contacted by Dayle Moseley who had been the manager of the Street Youth Outreach Program at DEYAS and he informed me when Angela was not seen for a couple of days [they] mobilized their entire network of outreach workers, needle exchange drivers, street cops, and all other groups who work and care for people who live in the Downtown Eastside to actively look for Angela.

I have attached the e-mail for you to critique. I would like to challenge all of Detective xxxx comments.

I would like to know how he DID NOT acknowledge Angela was missing when street cops and a multitude of people had been searching for my daughter? I would like to know why the Vancouver Police Dept. decided Angela's parents were not worth the time or effort to make a long distance phone call to notify us she was missing? It was apparent to a vast number of people from the eastside of Vancouver my daughter was missing and they took her disappearance seriously and acted upon it quickly.

It was not a secret that women from the downtown eastside of Vancouver were disappearing at an alarming rate. Constable Dave Dickson , a respected officer with many years of service with the VPD notified me he could not keep up with all of the women vanishing. It was Dave Dickson that informed me Detective xxxx was responsible for missing persons and was responsible for Angela's case. I was also told a serial killer was roaming the downtown eastside of Vancouver and still nothing was done to search for Angela.

Detective xxxx continually told me of sightings of Angela when I insisted it had to be a person that looked like my daughter. After [I] had located the young woman that the detectives had mistaken for Angela they finally admitted it wasn't Angela. Critical time had lapsed and still no police investigation for Angela. The young woman mistaken for Angela was Sereena Abotsway. Sereena's remains have been located at the Pickton farm and Robert Pickton has been charged with her murder. This detective did not take the disappearance of my daughter seriously. His lackadaisical attitude to conduct a regular missing person's investigation may have jeopardized my daughter's life.

With the huge investigation on the Pickton farm, in Surrey and elsewhere it has become obvious how vital it is to conduct a proper missing persons investigation. I would like to remind you that [I] had been the person responsible for locating Angela's dentist. I insisted to Detective xxxx Angela's dental records be placed in her missing persons file. If [I] had not pursued this action, it would not have been done. Dental forensics are vital in identifying a missing person by teeth or a tooth fragment. Forensic dentists have been asked by police to assist them with the ongoing 54 missing women investigation from the downtown eastside of Vancouver. My daughter Angela is among the list of these missing women.

I would like to include Detective xxxx inappropriately gave me the name of a man and included his phone number for me to contact. This man was a person of interest in regard to the missing women investigation. I later learned there was another male that befriended himself to our family that is also a person of interest with the missing women investigation. I was not forewarned of either of these two men, and my safety could have been placed in jeopardy.

I would like to conclude that there had been very little effort made by the Vancouver Police to address any of my concerns. I would like to state at the time of my complaint it was brought to my attention that both detectives I found fault with had exemplary police records and my complaint is the only complaint received from any of the families of the missing women. I would like to say it is a sad, very pitiful state of affairs when a mother has to resort to conducting her own investigation in search of her missing daughter. In view of these events it has caused me great emotional stress, anxiety and trauma to my personal well being.


Respectfully,

Deborah Jardine
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