Vancouver woman, 34, charged after replica firearm found at ceremony

Vancouver police have arrested a 34-year-old woman who they allege impersonated a police officer while attending the Remembrance Day ceremony at Victory Square. Officers found a replica firearm in her possession after the arrest, and she has since been charged with a weapons offence, police said.

Officers noticed the woman wearing camouflage combat-style clothing, body armour, tactical boots and a tactical vest fitted with military-style pouches, according to police. She was also allegedly displaying a police-style badge on a chain and several police-related patches.

The annual Victory Square ceremony is one of the largest Remembrance Day events in British Columbia, the Vancouver Police Department said. It draws thousands of attendees each year to honour Canada’s veterans, according to police.

Const. Megan Lui said the department had roughly 120 officers deployed to secure Remembrance Day ceremonies across Vancouver. Incidents like this one, she said, are a reminder of the need for a police presence at important public events.

The woman, who is from Vancouver, faces one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, police said. The department described the alleged impersonation in its account of the incident at the ceremony.