Pubdate: Thu, 08 Mar 2007
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun

FORCE TARGETS STREET VIOLENCE

VANCOUVER - With shootings becoming increasingly common on the 
streets, police have formed a rapid deployment anti-gang unit of 20 
officers designed to "surge and purge" the streets of gang-related violence.

Supt. Kash Heed said the Gang Violence Task Force that became 
operational Wednesday night will "target players involved in gang 
behaviour and gunplay."

The unit will be active in the downtown entertainment zone, which 
attracts what Heed described as "weekend gangsters," many from out of town.

The announcement followed yet another public shooting on Tuesday 
evening when a 26-year-old Vancouver male was gunned down at Cambie 
Street and West Hastings Street at about 9:15 p.m.

Details of the shooting released by police Wednesday include 
now-familiar elements: a targeted shooting and a male, well known to 
police and involved in the illegal drug business.

This unidentified victim was shot three times and was found lying on 
the street. He is expected to recover and investigators are following 
leads they are keeping to themselves, said spokesman Const. Howard Chow.

Heed said the shootings are "causing senseless tragedy and 
contributing to a sense of fear" in the community.

He said there is a perception in the community that the number of 
shootings has increased -- something he didn't deny -- and even went 
on to add that not all the drive-by shootings of houses or vehicles 
are being reported and made public.

"We have a duty to respond to that perception so our citizens feel 
safe but there has been a recent spike lately and we're responding to 
that and we are going to target our problem in a very proactive 
fashion," he said.

Heed said the unit will concentrate on stopping cars believed to 
contain armed gang members.

"Our objective is to maximize the number of vehicles stopped and to 
use field interrogation techniques to put these people on notice that 
we are out there in greater force with a specific focus on them.

"There will be an immense concentration on locating and seizing 
firearms and we anticipate an increase in gun seizures and subsequent 
decrease in gun-related violence in Vancouver," said Heed.

He said the task force is charged with "gathering real-time 
intelligence and crime data from a variety of sources, analyzing the 
information and then rapidly deploying officers on strategically 
identified gang hot spots and offenders."

Heed said the unit will include uniformed patrol officers, tactical 
officers, experienced gang detectives and "less traditional covert 
means of identifying and arresting offenders."

"The initiative is designed to take full advantage of the large 
field-based officers that we have on our streets each day," he said.

The task force will also draw on the resources of the Integrated Gang 
Task Force -- an RCMP-municipal police unit tackling gang violence 
throughout the Lower Mainland.

Heed said the justice system has been asked to seek maximum sentences 
for persons involved in gang-related violence.

"We know that targeted enforcement of individuals involved in gang 
behaviour will deter their blatant criminal activity and will 
ultimately have the desired effect of making this city a safer place," he said.

With many of the shootings taking place in public it was fortunate 
"more innocent people had not been harmed," he said.

Heed said 10 years ago much of the gang violence was Indo-Canadian 
based, but today gang members come from various ethnic groups.

He said the shootings are related to the availability of guns within 
the criminal community and the immense amounts of money generated by 
the illicit drug trade.

Heed said police won't attempt to bar known gangsters from coming 
into the city.

"We're not saying you cannot come into Vancouver -- we're not going 
to disregard their rights -- we're saying when you come into 
Vancouver you will catch our attention so you must behave."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom