"When a Vancouver man riding the #16 bus punched another passenger in the face --- then turned to the driver and punched him as well --- it's fair to say he had no clue seven police officers were watching.
So began a chase and takedown that ended in honours today for seven police officers, members of the Finland's hockey team, here to compete in the 2009 World Police and Fire Games.
After seeing a man punch his victim on the bus, the driver pressed a transit security button. That triggered the attacker to punch the driver violently enough that he slumped down onto his steering wheel, activating the bus's horn.
The sudden honk of the horn caught the attention of the seven officers of Tampere, Finland's national police force who'd been sitting in a car directly beside the bus, on their way to police hockey game in Burnaby.
"We saw a driver hold his head and a passenger step out of the bus and run away past the corner," said Det. Sgt. Antti Karhola, a member of Finland's national police force, who spoke for his group.
"Some of us started to run after him, and the others asked the bus driver what happened. He told us and we all ran after the guy and caught him after two blocks."
They held him until transit police arrived.
Surrounded by what looked like odd assortment of fair-complexioned, blue-eyed Canadians, the man was shocked.
"We held him and he made quite a lot of noise. He started to scream.
He thought it was Canadian cops that caught him, and when he realized we were not, he started to scream, 'you can't hold me!'
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16811 posts, RR: 57 Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1621 times:
Ah seven Finnish hockey player/cops vs. one punk. I do like those odds...
StasisLAX From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1591 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 1): Ah seven Finnish hockey player/cops vs. one punk. I do like those odds...
Ah, the mind wanders
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety!" B.Franklin
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19693 posts, RR: 56 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1588 times:
Criminal Common Sense Rule #32:
When your city is hosting a competition among police forces, it might be a good time to lay low and not try anything.
Good job to the Finns.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16811 posts, RR: 57 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1477 times:
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 8, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1458 times:
This story reminds me of the time a few years ago when a guy from Ft. Rich tried to run the Holiday Inn on 4th avenue. He went up to the check in counter and demanded the money in the safe. The folks behind the counters said they needed to get the key from the manager.
He was in a conference room helping set it up for a D.A.R.E drug use prevention training class, along with about 50 police officers from around the state who where there to take the class.
Yeah, they all came out to catch the guy.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Czbbflier From Canada, joined Jul 2006, 932 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1258 times:
Did this story make the papers in Finland?
As a transit operator in Vancouver, I was particularly touched by the Finnish cops quick thinking and efforts.
A colleague and friend of mine just got pepper sprayed in the face a couple of weeks ago by a couple of punks out for a good time. Too bad our Finnish friends weren't there too!
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13334 posts, RR: 64 Reply 11, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1218 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 8): This story reminds me of the time a few years ago when a guy from Ft. Rich tried to run the Holiday Inn on 4th avenue. He went up to the check in counter and demanded the money in the safe. The folks behind the counters said they needed to get the key from the manager.
He was in a conference room helping set it up for a D.A.R.E drug use prevention training class, along with about 50 police officers from around the state who where there to take the class.
Yeah, they all came out to catch the guy.
What about the three punks last year in Sydney, Australia, who tried to rob a pub? The only thing they missed were the multitude of Harley-Davidson motorbikes outside, else they would have known that the place happened to hold the yearly meeting of a motorcycle club similar to the Hell´s Angels. And, yes, all of them stormed out Obelix style to have a part of the fun. The would be robbers sh*t their pants.
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1177 times:
Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 10): Did this story make the papers in finland?
Yes the story made the Finnish papers too. These police officers came from Tampere, from south-central Finland where people have a reputation to be kind of slow... but that was proven wrong here
I think generally the police force has a rather good image in Finland, trusty and not showing their gun power too much. But underpaid, like everywhere it seems.
YOWza From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4781 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1175 times:
Quoting Andaman (Thread starter): "Some of us started to run after him, and the others asked the bus driver what happened. He told us and we all ran after the guy and caught him after two blocks."
I dunno what kind of shape cops are in in YVR but Toronto most cops are a bit too portly o put up much of a chase.
Quoting Mir (Reply 5): When your city is hosting a competition among police forces, it might be a good time to lay low and not try anything.
Itsjustme From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2765 posts, RR: 11 Reply 14, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1106 times:
Great story. You never know who's around. While off duty and out for a pleasure ride on my motorcycle, on two different occasions, while stopped at a traffic light, I've been solicited to buy drugs (marijuna the first time and a bag of coke the second). Another time, while riding home from work on I-10, I noticed the car next to me had a rear passenger window broken out (when thieves steal a car, if they have to break a window to gain access, they'll chose a rear window so they don't have to sit in the glass) so I cruised up next to it so I could get a closer. Sure enough, there was a screw driver crammed into the ignition (the car was a Honda Accord which is in the top 5 stolen autos out here). Long story short, I notified the CHP via cell phone and 30 minutes later, there were 2 less car thieves on the street.
AirPacific747 From Denmark, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 2091 posts, RR: 23 Reply 15, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1099 times:
Quoting Andaman (Reply 12):
I think generally the police force has a rather good image in Finland, trusty and not showing their gun power too much. But underpaid, like everywhere it seems.
Just like in Denmark.. they should indeed get a raise. They've been struggling with leftist demonstrators lately, and it will probably happen again big time during the climate summit in December later this year. I really appreciate their hard work.