Have a read:
A sightless advocate for the blind claims he was roughed up and verbally abused by two SkyTrain police officers.
"I'd like them to be fired," said 54-year-old William Conway of Sechelt. "I'd like to see an assault charge. I don't think they have the right to do this. This should never happen to another blind person ever, ever again."
Conway, who has been blind since he was eight, has filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner.
"Right now, the New Westminster police department is doing an investigation at the request of [Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service]," confirmed transit police Staff-Sgt. Al McGregor. The New West department investigates internal matters concerning transit police.
McGregor said the two officers allegedly involved are still on the job, but he declined to comment directly on their experience levels or any other element of the incident.
Conway said the officers threatened to force him off the train on the night of Feb. 22 if he didn't prove to them his guide dog, six-year-old German shepherd Doctor M.C., was allowed on transit. He further alleges the officers never identified themselves.
Guide dogs are allowed on SkyTrain, said TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie, but they have to be properly accredited.
Conway's dog is accredited by Seeing Eye Incorporated out of Morristown N.J., a training facility officially recognized by the B.C. government since 1974.
Conway said he showed his blind person's bus pass at the officer's request then left the train voluntarily at Joyce Station, his dog's harness firmly in hand.
He said the officers again demanded he prove the dog was a working animal. Conway insisted the officers identify themselves and wondered aloud how they could mistake the animal as anything but a seeing-eye dog.
Conway said the police threatened to handcuff him and take Doctor M.C. to the pound unless he left immediately.
Conway claims the officers continued to harangue him as he made his way down the station stairs with Doctor M.C. leading the way. Angry, Conway says he turned and swore.
"After taking two steps down the stairs, my right arm, which was free, was yanked backwards -- a person grabbed my right wrist and physically bent it backwards to cause undue pain and attempt to break it," he alleged in the complaint to the OPCC.
"At the same time, I was put in a choke hold with an arm around my neck to cut off the air supply . . . Then a huge hand went over my mouth and nose to prevent my breathing," the complaint said.
Conway said he then fell and woke up with the dog licking his face. He suffered a large gash on his leg. He was not ticketed.
Bonnie Nelson of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind said guide dogs are free to go anywhere with their master.
"It doesn't have to have a sign saying 'I am a guide dog,' " she said.
While Conway's allegations are out of the ordinary, the CNIB routinely hears from members about problems convincing transit staff that their special passes and ID cards are valid, she said.
McGregor said all transit police are trained to the same level as any other municipal police force.
Conway has been a board member of the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities for 11 years. He is also vice-president of the Sunshine Coast White Cane Club and has raised nearly $5,000 for Canine Vision Canada in Ontario.
He is well-known on the Sunshine Coast, where he sells hand-woven cane chairs at farmer's markets.
Now before we jump to conclusions, just have a couple of questions:
were there witnesses or any video evidence?
if not, how could he have been so sure that these guys were actual transit cops??
i mean... HE CAN'T SEE FOR PETE'S SAKE,
for all we know it could have been a couple of jerks pulling off a tasteless prank
