Frank Paul remembered as 'martyr' at vigil

Supporters of a man who froze to death in a Vancouver alley 11 years ago held a vigil in his memory on Sunday.

Frank Paul, 48, died of hypothermia on Dec. 6, 1998 after a police officer left him in an alley after he was released from the city drunk tank.

An interim report released earlier this year following an inquiry into Paul's death said he was a victim of indifference and a botched police investigation into his death.

David Dennis, the president of the United Native Nations and the Frank Paul Society, expressed continued frustration with a lack of accountability in law enforcement, but acknowledged some progress has been made.

"We think that Frank Paul has been a martyr to that cause," he said.

"It was the beginning of the tipping point with respect to the general public's lack of confidence within the RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department. That public pressure has led to the changing of the tone in the police."

Cameron Ward, the lawyer who represented United Native Nations at the inquiry, said that is the one positive thing to come out of the incident.

"That truly is a change that is overdue. That truly will be a positive legacy of Frank Paul's sad and unhappy life and death," Ward said.

David Eby, the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said Paul's death represents "the beginning of the end of police investigating themselves when someone dies in their custody."

"I'm glad that we can all be here in remembering his contribution – his tragic contribution – to police accountability," he said.