DEATH AT DELBROOK

While the targeted execution of a Burnaby man outside a North
Vancouver recreation centre this weekend is adding urgency to the
current discussion on the North Shore's policing future, the three
local mayors are not ready to say whether regionalization is the
answer to increasing drug-related violence.

In what police call a targeted hit, Chi Wai Liao, 32, who was known to
police and previously convicted on gun possession crimes, was shot
multiple times through the window of his parked pick-up truck while
sitting in the parking lot outside Delbrook recCentre following a
floor-hockey game late Saturday night. According to West Van Mayor
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, on Tuesday police sources told her Liao was "a
known drug-dealer."

District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton said he's disturbed
the shooting happened "in the heart of our community," and blamed the
proliferation of drugs for the gun violence plaguing the Lower Mainland.

"It seems all these drug-related deaths are young people or innocent
people," Walton said.

He added the fact Liao was from Burnaby but killed in North Vancouver
shows "these acts of vengeance can happen almost anywhere."

Walton said he believes the "unprecedented" violence seen recently
stems from Vancouver being a major port for drugs.

"Young people (involved in the drug trade) have lost any fear of
consequences and (are showing) ample disrespect for human life."

Walton said police need "a coordinated response" to the drug-related
gang crime but stopped short of endorsing the regional approach
advocated by WVPD Chief Const. Kash Heed at last week's SFU-hosted
dialogue on police reform that included mayors, police chiefs and academics.

Proponents of a regional force such as SFU criminologist and dialogue
organizer Rob Gordon said the spate of recent gang shootings prove
Metro Vancouver must replace its mix of RCMP and independent municipal
police forces with one unified force to better protect the public.

"It is something that is long overdue," Heed said. "Crime knows no
borders and neither should the delivery of effective police
enforcement."

Walton said he will wait for the current North Shore police services
review (on questions such as how to consolidate a joint North Shore
force or whether to renew the current RCMP contract for 2012) to be
published before weighing in on Heed's call.

"I don't know whether Mr. Heed is right or wrong. I'm certainly open
to (regionalization)," Walton said. While not committing to take a
stand on the status quo, North Shore amalgamation, or regionalization
before municipal elections this fall, Walton said: "If I feel I have
enough information that I can make a strong statement, I will."

Like Walton, Goldsmith-Jones said the Delbrook shooting shows "truly
frightening" violence is impacting "innocent communities."

Goldsmith-Jones said she's convinced the current community policing
model has to change in response to the violence but unlike Heed, she's
not yet sold on regionalization.

"It's clear (Heed) is really pushing (regionalization) and that's
fine. Personally I have a lot to learn," Goldsmith-Jones said. She
added she can't say she'll commit to a position before the fall election.

"A regional force seems overwhelming ... being able to commit to a
regional force in a few months is unlikely," Goldsmith-Jones said,
adding the current North Shore police review will allow the mayors to
envision changes.

"I can't see the structure ... we need people with the experience to
describe that."

On whether the current integrated forces charged with fighting murder,
gangs and drugs are effective Goldsmith-Jones said: "Our West Van
force will say there are some problems with integrated units and the
province will say they are great. Where is the truth?"

City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto said he expects results
from the North Shore policing study in a matter of months, and he
can't say whether he'll commit to the status quo or change on policing
before the fall election.

However, CNV Coun. Bob Fearnley said he's already got enough
information to decide he wants to move to a North Shore police force
and cancel the RCMP contract for 2012. "I'm in 100 per cent agreement
with Kash Heed's opinion," he said.

Fearnley said a North Shore force would give better police services
and come under more community control than the North Van RCMP. He said
after establishing a North Shore force, joining a regional force
should be considered.

In an interview, SFU's Gordon said he's convinced there's no "apparent
synchronization" among the various community police forces and
integrated units forced to deal with organized crime.

"We have these silos (of information) but the comment you'll hear
(from police) is 'we're not fragmented,'" Gordon said. "Yeah right."

"The violence (recently seen) is not going to change until we go after
organized crime in a systematic and organized way with a regional force."

While Gordon says the regionalization question typically comes and
goes every five years and is dismissed in secret government talks,
he's encouraged that current talks are "the most transparent
discussion ever."

One reason is pressure from more than 20 gang shootings in the past
six months and another is the upcoming municipal and provincial elections.

While Gordon calls the decision to go regional, or renew provincial
RCMP contracts for 2012 a "critical social policy" choice, he believes
municipal politicians are too locally-minded to make the call. "I
think the province will have to pluck this out of municipal
politicians' hands ... they are too parochial."

Gordon is planning for another regional policing dialogue in the
coming months.