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PrintAre some of those Olympic panhandlers in Vancouver actually cops?
I saw a new beggar in the neighbourhood this morning. This guy was a tall, wiry Caucasian around 40 years old who looked reasonably well fed.
Call me paranoid, but I had a hunch that he wasn't your normal homeless man wandering the streets of the city.
I'm wondering if we're going to see an onslaught of unfamiliar beggars in Vancouver this month as the city hosts the 2010 Winter Games. And I'm betting that some of these beggars will be carrying a badge.
It's a great way to go undercover and keep an eye on passersby. These "panhandlers" can even carry hidden cameras to record the action.
So the next time you see an unfamiliar beggar on your block over the next month, try engaging him in conversation. Ask if he needs help. Perhaps you might want to offer to take him to McDonald's or to some other restaurant for a cup of coffee and a snack. Better yet, say you'll escort him to a shelter.
If he snaps at you and tells you to get lost in an authoritative tone, well, you just might have stumbled across another police officer.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
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Miguel
Over the last couple of months I see small groups congregating at night near large stores like Safeway. They stay togther until the cops roust them and they they move individually to smaller store alcoves for the rest of the night.
I've also seen a few fights between binners and residents in alleys. Not pretty.
BTW, if you think a street person is a cop, ask to take their picture for a loonie. If they say no, you'll have your answer.
Hey for a billion they could have cops looking over your shoulder at every copy shop in the city. Running a police state is expensive, but a billion is a lot of money.
"Perhaps you might want to offer to take him to McDonald's or to some other restaurant for a cup of coffee and a snack. Better yet, say you'll escort him to a shelter. If he snaps at you and tells you to get lost in an authoritative tone, well, you just might have stumbled across another police officer."
Yes: So any beggar that refuses my offer of McDonald's food or doesn't want to be escorted to a shelter MUST be a cop. Give me a break.
Rod Smelser
Canadian AND US authorities are operating in the Lower Mainland. The US has a command post just across the border in Blaine (just to the south of Bellingham Airport). It is tied directly to Coordinated Law Enforcement facilities in Richmond. FBI, Customs & Border Protection, Homeland Security, etc are actively operating there and in Canada.
RCMP, Canadian Forces (regular force & special forces), OPP, Quebec Police, and CSIS are also in town.
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