Pubdate: Sat, 07 Feb 2015
Source: Beacon Herald, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/letters
Website: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1459
Author: Cory Smith
Page: A1
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

BIKER GANG HAS MOVED IN

Law Enforcement: The Gate Keepers Said to Be Support Club of Hells Angels

A support club for the Hells Angels has set up in Stratford.

The Gate Keepers, who have chapters from southwestern Ontario to the 
Maritimes, have been in Stratford "for months" and have leased a 
Downie Street building, Stratford Police Chief John Bates confirmed.

"It's something we're aware of and we're taking appropriate steps to 
investigate and monitor this situation," he said. "Members of that 
organization have made their presence known in Stratford for months 
now, and we believe some of them are from the London area."

Det. Staff Sgt. Len Isnor of the OPP's biker enforcement unit said 
the Gate Keepers have four chapters in Nova Scotia and chapters in 
Elgin and Middlesex counties.

"They do as directed by the Hells Angels," he said. "Hells Angels 
insulate themselves from criminal activity, so they utilize support 
clubs to conduct that insulation and to basically do the dirty work for them."

Outlaw biker gangs set up where there is a drug demand, Isnor said. 
That leads to drugs in schools, break and enters and addiction 
spikes, among other issues, he added.

"Anytime you have motorcycle gangs in your community you have to be 
concerned. With motorcycle gangs comes organized crime, and you're 
going to be affected."

It's unknown how many members of the Gate Keepers are in Stratford or 
for how long they will stick around.

"It depends," Isnor said. "Sometimes it's trial and error for clubs. 
They may realize it's not worth it and disappear. There's so many 
variables that could happen over time, which causes these groups to 
set up and also dismantle."

It's not the first time a biker gang has set up in Stratford. The 
Loners established a Perth County chapter in 2013 but have since 
moved on, Bates said.

"I think there was certainly some concern expressed by the public 
(when it was made public the Loners had set up in Stratford), and I 
think we managed that accordingly and we will do the same in regard 
to this," he said. "My message to the public is their local police 
service is aware of it and we have partners in the province that 
specialize in outlaw motorcycle gangs investigating. We're 
collaborating with them as well," he said. "We'll monitor any kind of 
activity we deem to be running afoul of the law. Otherwise, we do 
live in a free country and it's not illegal to be a member of a club."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom