In the early hours of Jan. 5, Vancouver police were called to the Downtown Eastside (DTES) in response to reports of a naked man in the street shouting out, “I want to die,” banging on windows, and wielding what was said to be a sword. Within seconds of arriving on the scene, two Vancouver police officers shot and killed the man. 

Seven and a half months later, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIOBC) released a six-page report clearing the police officers of any wrongdoing, calling the use of force, “justified, necessary and proportionate." 

Vince Tao is a community organizer with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), an advocacy group working on behalf of drug users in the neighbourhood. After the shooting, VANDU took it upon themselves to learn more about the man whom the IIOBC report identifies only as “AP,” or “Affected Person.” 

“His name was 'Chester.' He is a Filipino man who's a construction worker...We were able to find his family and contact them and talk to them. We were able to find some of his friends, learn a bit about his life,” said Vince.

A memorial march was also organized by VANDU.  

“This type of killing happens all the time in the DTES,” says Vince.

“What's more of a travesty is the power they wield and being able to shape a narrative," he added, commenting on the IIOBC report. "And again, also disappear a person completely. They still refuse to name Chester and he will not be named in official police discourse in the records and public record.” 

The IIOBC report on the VPD shooting can be found here. 

You can follow VANDU on Twitter @VANDUpeople. 

Tune into CFRO's interview with Tao below: