Pubdate: Sat, 21 Feb 2009
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310
Author: Kristi Patton

GANGS MAKING PRESENCE FELT IN OKANAGAN

They come to the Okanagan just as any businessperson would - 
searching for an opportunity to make money.

Except these businessmen exchange suits for soft ballistic body 
armour and their briefcases are full of drugs and money. RCMP say 
gangs such as the Independent Soldiers, Hell's Angels, UN and Kingpin 
Crew use the Okanagan as a gateway from Vancouver to Calgary to move 
their products.

"I think with all the gang violence going on in Vancouver it was just 
a matter of time that we would see something take place in the 
Okanagan," said Sgt. Steven Barton, head of the RCMP South East 
district's criminal intelligence section.

Bullets flew in Kelowna on Jan. 26 when a Budget Car and Truck Rental 
location at Highway 97 and Enterprise Way became the brazen scene of 
a broad-daylight shooting. Later it was discovered that the Vernon 
resident involved is a member of the Independent Soldiers gang. 
Gunshots rang out after he and another man were returning a car. A 
third man walked in and opened fire. It was a wake-up call for the 
sleepy Okanagan. Along with drugs, wads of cash and fancy cars - 
gangs have brought their violence.

"It is hard to say if there is going to be a big escalation in the 
Okanagan because of that one incident but I think we would be 
sticking our heads in the sand if we thought that it could not start 
happening here," said Barton.

The CIS head said organized crime operates on the same basis a 
business would, and using that analogy he explains how they get their 
foothold in different cities.

"So if I am a manager for Safeway, and I am selling Safeway groceries 
in Penticton, I may go there and check to make sure the groceries are 
being sold properly - collect any profits - then leave. That will be 
my footprint into the community, so to speak."

In Penticton, Sgt. Rick Dellebuur said the RCMP is not aware of any 
gangs that have headquarters in the city, but certainly members of 
gangs visit. He said through constant monitoring of intelligence from 
the Lower Mainland detachments and throughout the district, RCMP is 
aware of who these individuals are, who they are meeting, associating 
with and where they are hanging out.

"From time to time those people are in our community and if they step 
across the line we certainly will deal with them," warned Dellebuur, 
adding quite often gang members and their associates are here in the 
summer taking part in the various amenities the area has to offer.

Using police visibility as one of its biggest deterrence tactics, 
Penticton RCMP monitors the places the gang members hang out.

"We let them know that we know they are here and we are not going to 
tolerate any gang activities in the community," said Dellebuur. "We 
also discourage places from doing business with them. If there is 
going to be a bunch of gang members in your club, then there could be 
harm that could happen to the innocent people that are around. We 
make sure we point that out and most businesses are receptive in that 
they don't want to have these guys around causing problems."

Both Dellebuur and the former head of the South East district's 
criminal intelligence section have said the Okanagan Valley is a very 
ripe market for organized crime. There may only be a scattering of 
full-time residents in the area that have direct gang ties, but 
smaller factions are falling into the same patterns of full-fledged 
organized crime. In an Okanagan College speaker series in October, 
Dellebuur talked about a young teenage gang in Penticton that does 
petty crimes dubbing itself Mob 8. Nothing compared to the 
well-organized Hell's Angels or Independent Soldiers, but still a 
factor nonetheless.

"Some of these dealers out there may say they don't have any ties 
into a gang but if you look deep enough, most likely the marijuana 
they are dealing originally was bought from a gang," said Dellebuur.

It is a challenge that the RCMP is dealing with locally on different 
levels. The lure of flashy jewelry, high-fashion clothing, nice cars, 
lots of cash and power is tough to resist.

"They are looking for places that are ripe for them to make money. 
That is why we have to be vigilant so it wont happen here and there 
is no guarantees that it won't happen here. It is all about the money 
that can be made through illegal activities," said Dellebuur.

Penticton RCMP, community policing and other agencies have been 
sitting down with some of the more prolific young offenders to see if 
they can help. Sometimes it is helping with education or even as 
simple as finding them a place to live or receive three square meals a day.

"When you really get down and talk to them, all people have desires 
and goals other than doing drugs and committing crime and if you can 
make that happen for them, it can go a long way. It is not an easy 
job and for every one we have success with there is a lot more that 
are missed, but we can only do what we can with the resources that we 
have," said Dellebuur.

Less than one month after the gang shooting in Kelowna, which was 
overshadowed by the ever increasing violence in the Lower Mainland 
that even claimed the life of a young mother in front of her 
four-year-old son, the province has stepped in.

"Recent gang violence has been both shocking and appalling," said 
Premier Gordon Campbell in a recent announcement. "We're adding more 
police officers to investigate, arrest and get violent criminals off 
the street and we're dedicating more prosecutors to put criminals behind bars."

A seven-point plan to support ongoing efforts includes 168 more 
police officers, 10 more prosecutors, more jails and secure courts, 
tougher laws, crackdown on illegal guns, outlaw armoured vehicles and 
body armour and a new gang hotline and rewards program.

Officials are rallying for change by asking the solicitor general to 
not allow accused criminals double credit for time spent in jail 
awaiting trial. Prisoners held in jail awaiting trial typically get 
two days credit for each day served once they are convicted. Instead, 
they are hoping that those who use guns while committing a crime 
shouldn't get bail and want an end for the two-for-one credit.

B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal and Public Safety Minister John van 
Dongen are pressing for updated wiretapping laws to help track cell 
phones and other high-tech devices, authority to fingerprint suspects 
when they are arrested and simplified evidence disclosure rules to 
cut down long trials clogging the court system.

Campbell announced an additional $185 million to add 304 cells to the 
B.C. prison system. B.C. is also adding $1 million more to a $2 
million budget for education programs aimed at keeping young people 
away from drugs and gangs.

In Kelowna, a 16-member satellite gang unit has been proposed and a 
10-member weapons enforcement unit dedicated to seizing illegal 
firearms. The announcement has Barton, who is based in Kelowna, on a 
wait-and-see stance on how they will fill the bodies needed for the 
gang unit. Others in the Okanagan are excited at the prospect.

"I see it as a benefit. Gang activities know no one postal code," 
said Steve McVarnock, Vernon's top cop.

"We'll be able to leverage our resources with their expertise."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom