Unexpected Kindness: Police Sting in Vancouver Reveals Compassion, Not Crime
For five days, Vancouver Police Sgt. Mark Horsley infiltrated the Downtown Eastside neighborhood posing as a disabled man in a wheelchair. He was carrying visible money in an open fanny pack pretending to have a brain injury that prevented him from counting correctly, in order to lure potential thieves.
The operation sought to identify those responsible for recent robberies against vulnerable people. However, in more than 300 interactions, no one tried to rob him. Instead, he received warnings to keep his money, prayers, food and even spontaneous donations.
The experiment resulted in no arrests, but it revealed an unexpected display of community empathy. Horsley documented each encounter and stated that the experience changed his perception of the neighborhood and its inhabitants.