Pubdate: Sun, 19 Aug 2012
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Pamela Roth

GANGS CHANGING FACES

On a quiet Saturday afternoon at a northside Earls restaurant in May 
2011, a young male opened fire on three men leaving the eatery, 
sending two of them them to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The gunman, wearing grey sweatpants, black gloves, a black hoodie, 
and a red T-shirt, fled to a vehicle in the parking lot and sped 
away. Those involved in the shooting were known to police, who 
believe the attack was targeted with ties to gangs.

Since that day, up to five cases of gang retaliation have taken place 
to settle the score.

Compared to 2000 and 2004, where bloodshed among gangs was becoming a 
regular occurrence on city streets, police say things have cooled 
down considerably.

Det. Kevin Berge with the city police drug and gang unit, said 
flareups between rival gangs still happen, but, for the most part, 
they are at peace - at least, for now.

"There is still shootings. But definitely, for the most part, those 
people from four years ago are now four years older," said Berge, 
noting things could still flare up at any time, and brutal violence 
like stabbings, shootings and carjackings are still common among rival gangs.

"They know because they're older that peaceful is better for them 
because it (violence) gets the attention of police faster than anyone else."

Police have identified between 32 and 39 gangs in Edmonton at the 
moment, but that number fluctuates each week with changes in the drug 
trade and a couple key decisions in court.

Some gangs start locally while others flock to town when things are booming.

They come in webs, said Berge, following supply and demand in the 
drug trade, and leave when business begins booming elsewhere. Each 
gang varies when it comes to how sophisticated their business is run.

With Edmonton being the gateway to the north, combined with Alberta's 
red-hot economy, Berge said the city is an armpit for gangs.

"Alberta has a lot of money so we have a lot of drug trade. It brings 
in gangsters and drug dealers," said Berge. "That's one thing about 
gangs N there is no geographic borders."

And Edmonton is unique in that the city isn't controlled by any 
particular gang. Some of the more predominant ones include Redd 
Alert, Alberta Warriors, White Boy Posse, 32 Bloods, North End 
Jamaicans and West End Jamaicans.

Other gangs come and go.

Four years ago, there was a street gang named the Dogpound Gang. They 
were into selling meth and pushed their product in a certain 
geographical area, along with stolen property.

But one by one, police began putting members behind bars, and as time 
went by, the gang eventually disappeared.

"It can be just four or five motivated people that get together for 
the purpose of creating a criminal offence," said Berge, noting other 
groups that aren't self named seem to pop up collectively. "You can 
be a member here, but as soon as you go to jail your membership changes."

One draw of gang life is escaping poverty. But wealthy individuals 
from a good upbringings also turn to gang life. Some do it for the 
money and acceptance with a group, said Berge, while others do it to 
look good in front of certain people, for the nice cars, the flashy lifestyle.

They live in all quadrants of the city, with many owning nice houses, 
and look like regular people.

Before they can run with a crew, they usually have to endure a series 
of beatings or other initiations such as a robbery, drive-by 
shootings or self-mutilation. The same goes when leaving a gang, but 
often the beatings are more severe.

Berge has seen gang members range in age from 13 to 70.

Gangs recruit anybody they can benefit from, such as family members 
and friends, but prison is also a recruiting corral.

Berge has seen guys thrown in the slammer for simple criminal 
offences and come out patched gang members. Those that are high 
enough in the gang ranks can recruit an entire new crew to make 
enough money once they are released from cells.

"If your mindset is that this is just a hiccup in my gang business, 
I'll go and lay there for two years, get out and continue on; they 
are going to go in there and be more connected," said Berge, who sees 
a lot of repeat offenders.

"It's unique to each person. They might come out in a different gang 
and be a bit more wise to the world and their criminality."

Edmonton police use a number of tools and resources for cracking down 
on city gangs. So far, the confidential gang hot line - 780-414-GANG 
(4264) - has been its bread and butter.

Berge said there has been success in bringing down predominant 
gangsters, but detectives love to nab those at the top of the food 
chain to cripple the criminal activity associated with gangs. The 
only problem is they are usually out of reach.

"It depends on how smart they are. Some aren't catchable. Some are 
just so far removed you'll never catch them," said Berge. "As they 
get older, they get tired of it, so they more delegate or leave the 
lifestyle because of what it brings."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom