As the Olympic party raged through city streets, Vancouver’s gutters ran thick with booze.
Vancouver police, not including Transit Police, made a record 21,000 “voluntary” liquor pour-outs during the Games.
“There was an incredible amount of liquor that was not drunk,” Deputy Chief Doug LePard said yesterday. “Either because it wasn’t purchased or was poured out.”
LePard said the decision to close liquor stores early at 7 p.m. — and 2 p.m. on the final Sunday — was hugely helpful in maintaining order and was one of the recommendations from the B.C. Police Commission report into the 1994 Stanley Cup riot.
The VPD also issued 1,230 violation tickets to people caught drinking in public and arrested 253 people for being drunk in a public place. Another 93 people were arrested for breach of the peace.
The Olympics, LePard added, were generally a happy experience for police, who embraced a “meet and greet” philosophy during the massive street celebrations.
He said officers’ hands were sore from high-fiving revellers. People were chanting “V-P-D, V-P-D” and asking to take pictures with Chief Const. Jim Chu.
