Image: RCMP / Chilliwack RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk says the RCMP asked the public and media to not post pictures or video during Thursday's armed robbery in downtown Chilliwack so that authorities could peacefully resolve the active situation unfolding for all parties involved, including police. She described the active situation Thursday as a very high-risk situation and the posting of officer presence and locations could have resulted in placing undue risk to those inside the building as well as RCMP officers who were dealing with a very fluid and unfolding incident.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack RCMP explains

Chilliwack RCMP explains why it asked public, media to not post images, video of police incident

Apr 28, 2023 | 11:56 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk has explained the rationale behind the RCMP’s request to limit picture and video circulation surrounding Thursday’s police incident during which an armed man tried to rob the downtown CIBC at 9245 Young Road.

Sgt. Vrolyk, the primary media spokesperson for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment in Chilliwack, asked a reporter from Fraser Valley Today on Thursday (Apr. 27) at 12:51 p.m. to not post pictures and video of the incident because of safety concerns for everyone involved in the active situation. There were customers and staff inside the bank during the armed robbery attempt.

“In certain and very infrequent instances, we ask for both the public and the media to refrain from posting photos or videos of our police officers locations and actions during unfolding incidents,” Sgt. Vrolyk said in an email Wednesday evening. “It’s not often that we make this request, but when we do, it is because such images could jeopardize our ability to bring these type of incidents to a safe and peaceful conclusion for all those involved.”

At 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP tweeted the following: “Chilliwack RCMP are currently on scene of an active and unfolding situation in the 9200 block of Young Road. Please avoid the area. For safety reasons, do NOT share incident details/police locations on social media. More info to follow.”

For obvious safety reasons, RCMP personnel redirected traffic away from the area during the incident.

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Last June, two men on Vancouver Island were involved in a shootout at a bank in Saanich that left six officers wounded and the two suspects dead.

In Thursday’s incident, a 64-year-old man who was reportedly armed with a weapon prompted an immediate response by all available police resources including front line members, the Integrated Emergency Response Team, RCMP Air Services and Police Dog Services, Sgt. Vrolyk said. Police worked diligently to contain the situation and resolve the situation peacefully.

“In [Thursday’s] incident, we responded to a report of a man armed with a weapon inside a location with several other citizens present. This is a very high-risk situation and the posting of officer presence and locations could result in placing undue risk to those inside the building as well as our officers who are dealing with a very fluid and unfolding incident,” Sgt. Vrolyk said. “Effective teamwork and response from our Members and partner units, allowed us to bring this situation to a safe and peaceful conclusion.”