ALBERTA BEEFS UP GANG WAR ARSENAL

Calgary to Get 14 Dedicated Officers

The Stelmach government is creating four teams of police officers and
crime analysts to crack down on gangs in a bid to help several Alberta
communities, big and small, grapple with a wave of gun violence.

At the legislature Tuesday, Premier Ed Stelmach said the province will
use federal dollars to create 83 positions, mostly police officers who
will focus solely on stopping gangs dealing in drugs.

These added resources will be assembled into four gang enforcement
teams, marrying RCMP and municipal forces in Calgary and Edmonton
regions and enhancing policing in southern and northern Alberta.

The teams are expected to hit the streets by April.

In addition, the province is fast-tracking $13 million in funding for
100 extra front-line officers, who weren't expected until next year's
budget.

"The infusion of officers sends a clear message to those who have no
respect for the law and to those who use violence and intimidation as
tools for their criminal businesses," said Stelmach.

The bolstered police presence is part of a commitment to add 300 new
officers over three years. One hundred spots were announced earlier
this year.

Police chiefs of Alberta's two largest cities both expressed
satisfaction Tuesday with the province's latest announcement and
Stelmach's hints of more funding and programs to come.

"This is a really good start," Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson
said.

His Edmonton counterpart, Chief Mike Boyd, added: "This is going to be
another significant number of officers that's going to help us target
the work that we need to get done."

However, opposition parties contended the premier's commitment falls
short of what's required to put a lid on Alberta's explosive gang problem.

Liberal justice critic Kent Hehr noted Stelmach is offering fewer
officers than police chiefs in Calgary and Edmonton desire, while NDP
Leader Brian Mason said a total of 800 police hires are needed to
bring Alberta in line with the national average of officers per capita.

"Alberta has lagged far, far behind in the number of police officers
per capita and this government has had four years to fix the problem,"
Mason said. "Instead, they've waited until the situation is out of
hand. We're getting people shot in restaurants and on the street.

"It's too little, too late."

The Stelmach government's police infusion comes as Calgary detectives
piece together the motive for the city's latest homicides.

Two people were gunned down and two others injured Sunday at a
northeast Chinese restaurant. Hanson said officers haven't yet
determined whether the shootings are connected to gang activity.

"Our investigators right now are still delving into all the facts
there," Hanson explained.

The two deaths bring Calgary's homicide count to 30 -- already
equalling its total from 2007. The city's deadliest year on record was
1978, when there were 37 homicides.

Federal dollars for policing have been available since March, when the
province inked a $42.4-million deal with Ottawa. The funding is part
of a $400-million federal Police Officers Recruitment Fund, created to
finance a national effort to add 2,500 front-line police officers over
five years.

Stelmach said the province decided to use most of the federal money to
target gangs and drugs because they're a growing concern and
top-of-mind for many Albertans. Some of the funding will be put toward
the RCMP's criminal intelligence service and integrated child
exploitation unit.

While Calgary and Edmonton police chiefs maintain more recruits are
still needed to combat crime in their cities, Hanson likes how the
numbers are shaping up.

The Calgary police chief wants 400 new hires by the end of 2010. He
said he now has commitments for 296.

Here's the breakdown:

. The Calgary Police Service will receive from federal dollars 14
officers dedicated to gangs;

. Another 41 hires will come from provincial funding released
Tuesday;

. 41 officers were announced in spring's 2008 budget;

. City council has pledged $25 million over three years to hire 200
officers.

Calgary's mayor and city council have loudly lobbied for extra
provincial policing dollars. The city wants the province to match its
$25-million pledge -- it didn't do so Tuesday.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier wasn't pleased and said he'll keep pressing the
Alberta government.

"The integrated aspect of (the new gang teams) is very good, but as it
relates to Calgary, it falls significantly short," Bronconnier said.

"You can't reach your goal of being a gang-free Alberta and
eradicating the gangs that exist here in Calgary today when you're
only prepared to fund half of what the chief of police needs."

Stelmach said Tuesday other plans will be revealed soon, including a
program to target the 15 per cent of offenders who commit 60 per cent
of Alberta's crime.

The new initiative will monitor repeat offenders -- 20 in Calgary, 20
in Edmonton and 20 in rural areas.

"We'll put the heat on them, watch their movements, so they don't
reoffend," the premier said.