Call him the $900 million man
The Globe and Mail
By Rod Mickleburgh, The Globe and Mail Posted Thursday, February 4,
2010 1:42 PM ET
 
 
Top security cop Bud Mercer was in fine, feisty form Wednesday, as
he updated the world's media -- well, a couple of Japanese reporters
and a guy from National Public Radio; everyone else seemed to be
part of the same old, tired gang of local Olympic hacks -- on how
the 2010 Winter Games will be kept safe, sound and secure.
 
Call him the $900 million man.
 
A CBC report on some alleged problems with tardiness and no-shows in
the ranks? "That was amateur hour, in my view," Assistant RCMP
Commissioner Mercer, chief operating officer of the Vancouver 2010
Integrated Security Unit, said, dismissively.
 
Persistent public complaints by members of the strident Olympic
Resistance Network (ORN) that they have been harassed by police?
"Some individuals just seem to like to hear themselves speak," quoth
the comish.
 
How will police handle any trouble by protesters at their big
anti-Olympic march on Day One? "Everyone has a right to enjoy the
Games, not just the ORN," the main man warned.
 
And finally, with evident exasperation, Officer Mercer pointed out
for the umpteenth time that protesters may demonstrate wherever they
choose outside Olympic venues, provided they are peaceful. There is
not, and never has been, any intention to force them into so-called
protest zones.
 
"I hope I won't be misquoted," he added, a frustrated reference to
Olympic critics dining out on grandstand vows that they don't need,
nor will they be forced into 'no stinking protest pens', when police
have said from the beginning that the choice is up to them.
 
To underscore the point, his slide presentation cheekily showed the
location of a designated "safe assembly area." One picture was
labeled "No safe assembly area in place." The other read: "Safe
assembly area in place." The photos were identical. Get it?
 
Oh, that cop humour.
 
Incidentally, VANOC security types are trying something new at these
Games for, of all people, the media. To avoid long line-ups and
acknowledging there are few creatures more dangerous than an angry,
impatient hack, security checking of accredited media is, so far,
being done randomly. Some times they check you, sometimes they
don't. So far, I've looked suspicious one out of four times. Maybe
it was the "Slalom and Gomorrah" button that did it. 

Rod Mickleburgh, The Globe and Mail