Are some of those Olympic panhandlers in Vancouver actually cops?

Why would we make our city look bad with "fake beggars..." We have enough already; do you have any proof of this?

Could be an Olympics carpetbagger trying a scam; better to call the cops.
Miguel

My neighborhood is full of NEW street people. They've been intimdated and pushed out of the DTES and have to go elsewhere.

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.

I was at the anti HST rally in Vancouver. I took seven pictures of security, as well as undercover police. I was apporoached and was ask what my busness it was to take pictures? I took another one of him... he ran off. I suspect he was a mountie. I will be at all the events that I can get to. The free ones, because I cannot afford the real show. It will be interesting to see who I take pictures of. Look at the hair, as well as the shoes. Tell-tale signs of 1984 here now.

One very clean and well dressed pan handler outside a photocopy shop this morning. One one knee ready to pounce, not a typical pan handling stance. . . But didn't have time to confirm.

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.

This is ludicrous.

"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.

ask if you can help them to the sally ann too!

Charlie, you are a propaganda machine... However, in this case you are probably right. Tentatively, how dare cops dress up as the homeless. The homeless have enough problems as it without the RCMP further ruining their reputation.

Quick question: who gives a sh*t if cops are undercover to ensure someone doesn't attack you or the other fine people in our city? Seriously... tell me how this is harmful in ANY way. Your sense of righteousness does not weigh more heavily than the lives and safety of the general public. Sorry to pop that inflated head.

In Oliver Stone's film JFK, Dist Att Jim Garrison's suspicions are further aroused by photos of "hobos" picked up by the Dallas police. They appear a little scruffy at first glance, but closer examination of the photos shows newish shoes, good haircuts, well kept teeth, no real holes in the pants, etc.

Rod Smelser