Pubdate: Thu, 08 Mar 2007
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Matthew Ramsey, The Province

GUN-TOTING GANGS FACE NEW COP SQUAD

A new, 20-member Vancouver police squad aimed at gangsters with guns 
started working last night.

Vancouver has seen two murders and three gang-related shootings in 
recent weeks.

The latest was at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, when a 26-year-old man was 
shot three times and left bleeding on the sidewalk at Cambie and West 
Hastings. The victim is known to police and despite his serious 
wounds he is not co-operating with investigators.

Police say it's a gang- and drug-related hit.

Supt. Kash Heed says the violence has got to stop.

"Research and our experience shows that the police can have a 
deterrent effect on violence when they target suspicious individuals 
and activities," he said. "This initiative will target players 
involved in gang behaviour and gunplay, and is designed to 
significantly reduce the frequency of violence in our city."

Borrowing a phrase from U.S. President George W. Bush, Heed described 
the initiative as a "surge and purge."

"What we are saying is when you do come into Vancouver, you will 
behave," he said.

The new squad is modelled after the department's firearms 
interdiction team and is made up of officers with gang experience.

It will "aggressively" go after gangsters from all racial 
backgrounds, Heed said.

He said officers will "maximize" vehicle checks and field 
interrogations and use intelligence to target specific people and places.

He expects to see an increase in the number of weapons seized and a 
decrease in gun violence.

Police are currently charting a spike in gang- and gun-related 
violence in Vancouver, Heed said.

"I think we have been fortunate that more innocent people have not 
been harmed," he said.
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