Old ties to Hells Angels haunt airport workers
The former wife of a Hells Angel has lost her security clearance to work at the Vancouver airport simply because she was once married to the longtime biker.
Janette Yuen Shan Wu is fighting the Transport Canada decision to revoke her “Restricted Area Identity Card” because of her long-ended relationship with Damiano Dipopolo, a Vancouver longshoreman and a member of the Kelowna Hells Angels chapter.
Wu says in documents filed in the Federal Court of Canada that she obtained her security clearance in 2008 when she began working at Airport Terminal Services Inc., assisting passengers checking in for flights.
There have been no issues at her job and she renewed her security clearance in 2013 without a problem, Wu said.
But last January, she got a letter from Transport Canada that “identified concerns about the lifestyle of Ms. Wu’s ex-husband, Mr. Dipopolo, and indicated that a review of Ms. Wu’s security clearance would occur,” her court filings noted.
“The letter also outlined two incidents in which Ms. Wu had reported to the police being threatened by Mr. Dipopolo.”
Wu responded to the government, pointing out that she had separated from Dipopolo “in 2006 due to his lifestyle choice” and was not close to him at all.
“She further explained that she only continued to have contact with him through text message, emails or through counsel for purposes related to their children,” her application to the Federal Court says.
Wu also said she has remarried, to a deputy sheriff in Whatcom county, Washington state.
Despite the documentation she provided, Transport Canada’s director general of aviation security, Brenda Hensler-Hobbs, cancelled Wu’s clearance on Aug. 14. Wu is seeking a judicial review of Hensler-Hobbs’ decision.
Her lawyer Scott Wright said in the documents that the decision is unreasonable.
“Ms. Hensler-Hobbs based her decision entirely on the fact that Ms. Wu’s ex-husband, from whom she has taken steps to minimize contact and sought the assistance of police, is a member of the Hells Angels,” Wright said.
“The decision reasoned that there were concerns about Ms. Wu’s judgment as it was reasonable to believe that she was aware of Mr. Dipopolo’s involvement in a criminal lifestyle before their separation and that given his lifestyle, she may be subjected to intimidation, violence and manipulation by him.”
Wu’s application said Transport Canada failed to take into account her “performance during her years of employment” and her efforts to distance herself from Dipopolo, Wright said.
“There was no evidence, beyond stereotypical speculation, that Ms. Wu would be subject to any actions by Mr. Dipopolo that would put airport security at risk.”
Ironically, while Wu no longer has the clearance needed for her airport job, Dipopolo continues his work as a longshoreman at Port Metro Vancouver along with several other known Hells Angels and associates of the biker gang.
No response to Wu’s application has been filed yet by the government.
Wu isn’t the only person working at Vancouver airport who has lost their security clearance recently because of links to the Hells Angels.
Dallas Leonard Rudd was notified in a July 17 letter, also signed by Hensler-Hobbs, that his security clearance had been revoked. He’s also seeking a review in Federal Court.
Hensler-Hobbs wrote that Rudd had associations to two biker gangs.
“The information regarding your recent associations with the Hells Angels and the Jester’s Motorcycle Club raised concerns regarding your judgment, trustworthiness and reliability,” the letter said, “I note that you were seen on six occasions participating in poker runs organized by the Hells Angels or Jesters Motorcycle Club while in possession of a transportation security clearance.”
She said Rudd was seen at the home of a Jester, who he admits is a friend.
Rudd, a 63-year-old elevator mechanic with Fujitsu Canada, was warned in October 2014 that his security clearance was under review.
In a March letter to Transport Canada, he said he was never a member of either motorcycle club, but had enjoyed going on the poker rides. He said he realized his job might be in jeopardy due to the association after talking to an RCMP gang cop and cut all his ties in 2013.
“I currently do not go to the clubhouse nor do I socialize with them and have not for some time,” Rudd said. “I am not a violent person nor do I involve myself with crime. I value my job, my union and most importantly, my livelihood.”