GANG ACTIVITY FLARES EARLY

Project OMNI Tries To Stem Tide Of Violence In West End

As far as Sylvain Brouillette is concerned, summer began sometime in
January.

Traditionally, street gangs in Montreal are more active during the
summer months. But to Brouillette, the Montreal police chief inspector
responsible for the western part of the city, incidents of extreme
street -gang violence began all too early this year.

Five homicides and five attempted murders have been attributed to
street-gang activity already this year in such areas as LaSalle,
Lachine and Notre Dame de Grace. Included among those numbers was the
first homicide of the year, in Lachine, and the slaying of Tyler
Jacobs, 16, in N.D.G.

"I think this year summer started in January. That's why we're here
today. That's the problem," Brouillette said yesterday during a news
conference to announce the results of a project Montreal police
initiated Feb. 24.

Project OMNI is a grouping of Montreal police from neighbourhood
stations and specialized units. Their goal is to stem the growing
problem of street-gang violence in western Montreal.

"I'm convinced it is very preoccupying for the public. Unfortunately,
some sections have been more touched than others," Brouillette said,
listing LaSalle, Lachine, Cote des Neiges and N.D.G.

It is estimated there are more than 20 street gangs that can be
considered serious organized crime groups in Montreal. Brouillette
said the same ones plaguing other parts of the city are present in
western Montreal.

But, he added, the violence is not manifested through a clear conflict
between two groups. It is more often the result of very localized
conflicts between individuals, he said.

Since its creation, Project OMNI has produced 91 arrests for a variety
of offences, and charges have been laid in two attempted murder cases.

Police have also seized small quantities of drugs like marijuana,
crack and cocaine.

Team members have been involved in prevention programs that range from
drug-awareness campaigns to plays staged in schools. The team has also
conducted door-to-door campaigns and handed out business cards to let
the public know it exists.

Commander Michele St. Onge, the head of Project OMNI, said that
besides reducing incidents of street-gang violence, the team's other
goal is to make police more visible in problem areas.

"Street gangs have to know we are on the ground and we want to
increase the public's sense of security," she said.

Project OMNI encourages people to call the Info-Crime line at
to report street-gang activity.