Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jan 2008
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Page: A11
Copyright: 2008 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kent Spencer

OTTAWA HAS TO HELP COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE, SAYS MAYOR

Ottawa Has To Step To Plate - Sullivan

VIOLENCE IN VANCOUVER: 'Drug crimes are national and international in 
nature,' says city's mayor

Vancouver needs federal aid to combat drug crimes and gang violence, 
says Mayor Sam Sullivan.

"Drug crimes are national and international in nature," said 
Sullivan. "I'm working on helping us make our case to the federal government."

Sullivan was addressing the deaths of known gangster Ricardo Francis 
Scarpino, 37, and an unidentified 38year-old friend, who were both 
gunned down Saturday night in front of a Vancouver steakhouse.

The mayor said Vancouver will press for at least 40 to 50 officers as 
part of a federal commitment to hire 2,500 police officers across the country.

The city is also to receive $10 million as its portion of a 
$64-million anti-drug program, said Sullivan.

"The money will be used to support a variety of different efforts to 
reduce drug use," he said. "Vancouver takes in a great share of 
[illicit] drugs."

The funds could support a controversial University of B.C. initiative 
to get hardcore drug addicts to replace their street drugs with 
legally available prescription medications. The program, called CAST, 
stands for Chronic Addiction Substitution Treatment Trial.

"If we could get people off drugs, we'd have a much safer city," said Sullivan.

CAST proponents want to reduce the open drug market on city streets 
by 50 per cent. It is estimated that up to 33,000 British Columbians 
are depended on illegal drugs.

Sullivan, who was briefed by Police Chief Jim Chu on the murders, 
said it's fortunate others weren't injured or killed in the shootings.

"We're very lucky - given that there were many innocent bystanders - 
that none of these people were hurt," he said.

Last November, the Vancouver Police Department merged its anti-gang 
task force with a new Violence-Suppression Team, made up of officers 
from other local forces, to combat a spate of gang violence.

"Although they have reduced the incidents of shots fired, they can't 
stop all of this violence," Sullivan said. "Last night was one of those cases."

Vancouver Coun. Suzanne Anton said the shootings were "very 
dangerous" to passersby.

"It could be you or me [who gets hit]. It could be my kids. They are 
young adults who go downtown all the time," said Anton. "It's very 
random. All levels of government are worried about innocent people 
getting caught in a crossfire."
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