Pubdate: Thu, 08 Nov 2007
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Ryan Cormier

GANG WAR HEADED HERE, POLICE OFFICER WARNS

EDMONTON - A B.C. gang war that has left at least 10 people dead this 
year will reach Alberta's capital, the head of the Edmonton police 
department's crime section said Wednesday.

"There is a gang war in B.C. It's coming here if it isn't already 
here," Staff Sgt. Kevin Galvin said.

"Each one of these groups are connected to each other. The three main 
groups in B.C. have people in Edmonton."

However, the hot economy in Alberta doesn't encourage such gang 
violence among the more than 24 organizations in the city, he said. 
In fact, signs point to the opposite, Galvin said.

In a recent vehicle stop, police found illegal guns and three men who 
were all from different criminal groups. "We would not have seen 
those groups working together like that 18 months ago. But they can 
make money. The bulk of the motive for criminal enterprise is money."

There have been at least four gang-related homicides in Edmonton this year.

However, if the river of money dried up and debts accumulated, the 
violence would increase, he suggested.

The local drug trade, auto thefts and the prostitution of Alberta 
women in privately booked parties across North America are as 
prosperous as the legal economy, Galvin said.

The metro Edmonton gang unit seized 46 kilograms of cocaine in 2006, 
an estimated one per cent of the product that moves through the city.

"Even our construction thefts are unbelievable. It's not just a piece 
of wood here or there. I'm talking about pallets and pallets of wood. 
Entire semi-trucks have gone missing," Galvin said.

One solution is to tighten a bail system that Galvin said is "failing 
your community."

He pointed to an example of one man who was released on bail in five 
different Alberta jurisdictions while accumulating 148 charges.

Galvin would also like to see a gang diversion program similar to the 
ones already available for drug users. Many gang members join up in 
their late teens and need to know the reality of what they're getting 
into, he said.

Still, Galvin doesn't want the situation to seem hopeless.

"This is a very small percentage of our community that gets involved 
with this stuff. You're not going to wake up and find the city's 
burned to the ground."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman