A photograph of "fishermen from hell" has landed the president of a Teamsters local in hot water by raising questions about the powerful union's relationship with the Hells Angels.
The photo shows two dozen men posing with a dead salmon on a trip to a B.C. fishing lodge in 1999. Police organized-crime experts identified at least 12 men in the photo as members or associates of the Hells Angels -- and standing among them is Stan Hennessy, president of Teamsters Local 31, which represents civilian police employees, casino workers and truckers in B.C. and Yukon.
Mr. Hennessy, who for the past 15 years has held various positions in the union, was elected president of the 6,000-member local last year. During his election campaign he came clean about his criminal past in an open letter to Teamsters voters.
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"Almost 30 years ago, when I was in my teens and early twenties, I was not the person I am today. I was convicted of a robbery and a number of assaults and brawls, even once with a policeman. I served a short time in prison for the harm I did, and since then I've worked hard to turn my life around," he wrote.
"I deeply regret what happened back then, but as much as I would like to, I cannot change the past."
Mr. Hennessy made no mention in his letter of any connection to the Hells Angels.
That association came to light this week when The Vancouver Sun published the picture on its front page, saying the photo had been sent in a plain brown envelope to reporter Lindsay Kines.
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Among those identified in the photo by the newspaper are Normand (Biff) Hamel, a member of the Quebec Hells Angels, Nomads Chapter, shot to death in Laval in April, 2000. Mr. Hamel was a friend of Maurice (Mom) Boucher, convicted last year of the murders of two prison guards.
Also pictured is Warren Minett, a member of the Hells Angels White Rock Chapter, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1999.
"We have identified at least 12 people in the photo as members or associates of the Hells Angels," said Constable Sarah Bloor of the Vancouver Police. She declined to name individuals.
She described a Hells Angels associate as someone who is "attempting to become a member or is in some way associated in a stronger sense than just simply standing in a photo."
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She declined to say whether police regard Mr. Hennessy as an associate but said his presence in the photo, labelled "Fishermen from Hell," worries police.
"We are most concerned with the photograph that was taken and the suggested connection between Mr. Hennessy and the Hells Angels. We don't believe that that was just a chance gathering. We have been investigating for some time. At this point, we are continuing to look at the affiliation."
Constable Bloor said investigators "have not brought up any leaks of information from the Vancouver Police Department to Mr. Hennessy."
"The Teamsters constitution prohibits members from associating with crime organizations. And the police are satisfied that the Hells Angels are a crime organization, and worldwide you will find that they are referred to as crime organizations and have been involved in criminal activity."
Mr. Hennessy did not return calls. In response to the Sun's story, he issued a statement in which he denied wrongdoing.
"The photo was taken during a fishing trip during the summer of 1999 and hung in my union office for five years," he said.
"I have never been a member or had any association with the Hell's Angels. I know only a few people in the group photograph. If anyone reading this article has questions abut the integrity of our membership or the union that represents them, they shouldn't. . . . I know British Columbians are fair people; they will not accept any form of guilt by association."
Officials with the Teamsters, which in 1989 set up an independent review board to investigate alleged links between the union and crime organizations, were not available for comment yesterday at the B.C., Canadian or U.S. head offices.
Don Davies, a Teamsters spokesman, said the union is not concerned about the picture.
"[Mr. Hennessy]was invited on a fishing trip. When he was there he had his picture taken with the group, but he knew only one or two people in that picture."
Mr. Davies added that it is a case of "guilt by association" to conclude that Mr. Hennessy is associated with the Hells Angels because he appears in a photo with some members of the biker gang.
The Hells Angels did not respond to interview requests.
