ABBOTSFORD FORUM TACKLES GANG CRIME

Hundreds of Abbotsford residents packed the Matsqui Centennial
Auditorium last night, to voice their frustration about crime and
violence in the city to Mayor George Peary and Police Chief Bob Rich.

The community safety forum was organized following a rash of shootings
in Abbotsford in recent weeks.

The most flagrant shooting was a murder attempt on alleged gangster
James Bacon, which saw bullets fly in broad daylight in the middle of
a busy intersection.

Chief Bob Rich outlined his strategy to make Abbotsford the safest
city in B.C.

Rich said the number one priority of the Abbotsford Police department
is to suppress gang crime and reduce violent crime.

Gang activity, violence, and the flow of illegal firearms across the
U.S. border has exceeded police capability to respond.

"We're not doing enough yet and more needs to be done," said
Rich.

"There are way too many guns out there and that's a huge problem for
us. Our response has not yet been appropriate."

The APD is taking steps to increase public safety, such as targeting
urban marijuana grow operations, monitoring gang members and
contributing officers to provincial integrated teams battling
organized crime.

Abbotsford Police have also taken extraordinary measures to reduce the
threat that the Bacon brothers pose to public safety, said Rich.

"We are up [at the Bacon family home] on a nightly basis. We are
aggressively monitoring their bail release conditions and doing
nightly curfew checks," said Rich.

The APD has made over 200 visits to the home in an east Abbotsford
neighbourhood, which is also monitored by police surveillance cameras.

Specially trained officers will also start tailing the Bacons in a
marked car, and the brothers have been banned from attending any city
facilities.

Abbotsford brothers James, Jarrod and Jonathan Bacon are the subject
of an extraordinary public warning issued by police who warned that
anyone associating with the trio could be in jeopardy as they were
targets of a murder plot by rival gangsters.

The warning was issued in May 2008, following the arrest of James, 23,
and Jarrod, 25, in connection with two separate RCMP firearms
investigations.

The pair are charged with numerous weapons offences.

As an additional measure, police want Abbotsford businesses such as
gyms, restaurants, and car leasing companies to refuse service to
known gangsters, said Rich, to robust applause from the audience.

Business owners aren't expected to eject the gangsters themselves but
can call 911 to get police assistance.

"We want to work with you not to provide services to them in
Abbotsford because it's a huge risk."

Car lease agreements to gangsters have already been revoked in some
cases, he said.

"We have been going to car rental agencies and informing them of who
they are renting to, and asking them to not to rent cars to these people."

Abbotsford residents also provided police and city council with
feedback about how to tackle gang violence, property crime and
homelessness within the community.

Suggestions included stronger sentencing, youth prevention programs,
increasing the number of shelters for the homeless, stronger
enforcement of city bylaws, and legalizing drugs.

The families of two innocent bystanders murdered in the gangland
slaying in a Surrey apartment tower in October 2007 spoke at the forum.

Abbotsford resident Ed Schellenberg and Surrey teen Chris Mohan were
killed along with four gang associates.

Schellenberg's brother-in-law, Steve Brown, said the provincial
government has failed to administer justice and the courts shouldn't
be releasing anyone who poses a risk to the public.

"There are people who are out on the streets who in any other
jurisdiction in the world would be locked up," he said.

Mohan's mother, Eileen, thanked residents and organizers for the
public forum.

"We lived very innocently beside gang members," she said, adding
criminals have more rights than ordinary people.

"Seeing each one of you here tells me you won't stand for gang
violence . . . seeing you all here encourages me we don't stand alone."

The mayor thanked Mohan for her courage.

He is planning to set up a crime task force with community
stakeholders to get a handle on crime in the community.

However, every citizen had a role to play, said Peary.

"As you leave here tonight, I'm asking you to resolve to make a
difference. Community safety is not just a police issue but a
community issue."