Pubdate: Wed, 11 Mar 2009
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2009 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Mike Sutherland
Note: Mike Sutherland is the president of the Winnipeg Police Association. The
Association's column appears twice a month.

THE DENIAL GAME

Violent crime is going up and more people severely beaten

So we're No. 2.

Frankly I'm a little surprised we aren't No. 1, and I'm not talking 
Slurpee capital either.

In a recent article Maclean's magazine, it listed Winnipeg as the 
second most dangerous municipality in the country.

Of course some say the stats are misleading, or out of date, but if 
Maclean's had said we were the second safest place in the nation, I'm 
sure those critical of the article wouldn't be so hung up on slamming 
the stats.

Talk to any front-line paramedic, ER nurse or police officer and 
they'll all tell you the same thing. Violent crime is going up. 
People are getting severely beaten, stabbed or shot with ever 
increasing frequency.

Why is it happening?

The answer is simple, drugs, gangs and guns. Almost every crime can 
be tied to some type of drug usage, whether an attack committed by 
some drug-crazed perp, a gas station holdup to get enough cash for 
the next fix, or a gang war drive by as they fight over drug dealing turf.

So we are No. 2, what can we do?

1. Zero tolerance for gang members. Take a look at the success we've 
had with the auto theft strategy, one of the cornerstones of which 
has been to target the worst of the worst and have them arrested for 
every single breach of bail or probation condition until the judges 
are forced to keep them locked up.

It's worked so well for auto theft that we've reduced auto theft 
rates by roughly 70% since 2004 and it can work for the gangs, too. 
We just need to make sure we allocate enough resources to do it right.

2. Hit them in the pocketbook. Gangs operate to make money, beef up 
the units assigned to seize criminal assets and hit gangs where it 
will hurt the most, in the wallet.

3. Have intense addiction treatments while in custody for those who 
commit crimes to fuel drug addiction.

Implement the ideas of front-line corrections officers in tightening 
up to keep drugs out of jails. While you're at it, no more cell 
blocks dedicated to specific gangs.

SERIOUS TIME

If you're a convict you go to the next available cell -- regardless 
of your gang affiliation. No more chillin' with the homies while you 
repay your debt to society.

4. Use or possess a gun? Automatic serious jail time with no bail or 
double time credit.

5. Carrot or the stick. Those gangsters with no demonstrated desire 
to rehabilitate get serious time -- we are talking decades here.

Those that want to flip and become Crown witnesses get enrolled in a 
beefed-up witness protection program so they don't have to worry 
about gang retaliation.

What shouldn't we do?

Downplay the problem, or criticize those who identify the serious 
issues we are facing.

If those with the power to take action simply try and suppress the 
bad news, the gangs will continue to laugh and profit from the 
drug-fuelled violence that will continue to plague our streets.

What will it take to get action?

Maybe we have to be No. 1.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom