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VANCOUVER POLICE BOARD
MINUTES of Regular Meeting
held on April 26, 2000, 3:25 pm to 5 pm
VPD Board Room, 2120 Cambie Street, Vancouver
3.(5) Report #0027: Missing Women Reward Renewal
Sergeant Geramy Field advised that the Department was seeking a one year
extension to the missing women reward, thus extending the reward to May 1, 2001.
She noted that the investigation was far more complex than originally
envisioned. Through the reward poster, they did receive tips and they hope the
renewal will result in further tips. Four women have been located and they hope
to locate more women. The Mayor commented that the Police Board contribution to
the reward was $30,000 and the balance of $70,000 came from the Ministry of the
Attorney General. He said that the Ministry of the Attorney General had advised
it supported an extension of the reward.
MOVED by J. Pozer/SECONDED by K. Mottus:
THAT the Vancouver Police Board receive as information Report #0027: Missing
Women Reward Renewal;
AND THAT the Vancouver Police Board authorize a one year extension of the
existing reward posting of $100,000 related to Missing Women, with commitment of
$30,000 from the Vancouver Police Board and $70,000 from the Ministry of the
Attorney General. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Ministry of Attorney General
Missing Women Reward Extended
April 26, 2000 00:17
VICTORIA - A reward of up to $100,000 will be renewed for another year to
encourage more public tips to help police find 27 women missing from Vancouver's
Downtown Eastside since 1995, Attorney General Andrew Petter announced today.
"It is important to keep this investigation high profile to attract new
leads and to continue giving the families and friends of the women still missing
some hope that their loved ones will be found," said Petter.
Four of the original 31 missing women have been found since the reward was first
posted on May 1, 1999.
"Violence against women exists everywhere, in all cultures and across all
socio- economic barriers," said Women's Equality Minister Joan Smallwood.
"Women in the sex trade are particularly vulnerable, and this reward
recognizes the circumstances they face."
"Unsolved disappearances like these undermine the feelings of safety for
all members of the Downtown Eastside community," said Jenny Kwan, minister
of community development, cooperatives and volunteers and MLA for
Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. "I commend the attorney general and Vancouver
police board for their ongoing efforts to resolve these cases."
"Because there is so little evidence to go on - there is no crime scene,
suspect description or forensics - the Vancouver police department has dedicated
three investigators working full time to follow every lead, as well as homicide
detectives on an as-needed basis," said Vancouver police board chair and
Mayor Philip Owen.
"This is very much an active investigation," said Vancouver police
Sgt. Geramy Field, who is in charge of the case. "We still have a
tremendous amount of analysis to do on the thousands of pieces of information
we've gathered over the past year, and we welcome all new leads from the
public."
An updated poster provides photographs of the women, most of whom are sex-trade
workers. The poster also contains their names, birth dates, dates they were last
seen and dates they were reported missing. Specific details of the reward are
also provided. The Ministry of Attorney General is contributing 70 per cent of
the reward. The Vancouver police board is contributing 30 per cent.
The Vancouver police board will pay a reward of up to $100,000 upon the arrest
and conviction of a person or persons responsible for unlawfully confining,
kidnapping or murdering any one or more of the women listed in the reward
poster. Only those people who volunteer information by May 1, 2001 will be
eligible to receive a reward.
The poster, with enlarged photos, is available on the Vancouver police Web site
on the Internet www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police.
To report information about any of the missing women, call: ·
In the Vancouver area (604) 717-3415. ·
From anywhere in North America 1-800-993-8799. ·
To remain anonymous (604) 669-TIPS (8477).
$100,000 REWARD OKAYED
BLOOD ON THE TRACK
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