GANGS MAKING PRESENCE FELT IN OKANAGAN

They come to the Okanagan just as any businessperson would -
searching for an opportunity to make money.

Except these businessmen exchange suits for soft ballistic body
armour and their briefcases are full of drugs and money. RCMP say
gangs such as the Independent Soldiers, Hell's Angels, UN and Kingpin
Crew use the Okanagan as a gateway from Vancouver to Calgary to move
their products.

"I think with all the gang violence going on in Vancouver it was just
a matter of time that we would see something take place in the
Okanagan," said Sgt. Steven Barton, head of the RCMP South East
district's criminal intelligence section.

Bullets flew in Kelowna on Jan. 26 when a Budget Car and Truck Rental
location at Highway 97 and Enterprise Way became the brazen scene of
a broad-daylight shooting. Later it was discovered that the Vernon
resident involved is a member of the Independent Soldiers gang.
Gunshots rang out after he and another man were returning a car. A
third man walked in and opened fire. It was a wake-up call for the
sleepy Okanagan. Along with drugs, wads of cash and fancy cars -
gangs have brought their violence.

"It is hard to say if there is going to be a big escalation in the
Okanagan because of that one incident but I think we would be
sticking our heads in the sand if we thought that it could not start
happening here," said Barton.

The CIS head said organized crime operates on the same basis a
business would, and using that analogy he explains how they get their
foothold in different cities.

"So if I am a manager for Safeway, and I am selling Safeway groceries
in Penticton, I may go there and check to make sure the groceries are
being sold properly - collect any profits - then leave. That will be
my footprint into the community, so to speak."

In Penticton, Sgt. Rick Dellebuur said the RCMP is not aware of any
gangs that have headquarters in the city, but certainly members of
gangs visit. He said through constant monitoring of intelligence from
the Lower Mainland detachments and throughout the district, RCMP is
aware of who these individuals are, who they are meeting, associating
with and where they are hanging out.

"From time to time those people are in our community and if they step
across the line we certainly will deal with them," warned Dellebuur,
adding quite often gang members and their associates are here in the
summer taking part in the various amenities the area has to offer.

Using police visibility as one of its biggest deterrence tactics,
Penticton RCMP monitors the places the gang members hang out.

"We let them know that we know they are here and we are not going to
tolerate any gang activities in the community," said Dellebuur. "We
also discourage places from doing business with them. If there is
going to be a bunch of gang members in your club, then there could be
harm that could happen to the innocent people that are around. We
make sure we point that out and most businesses are receptive in that
they don't want to have these guys around causing problems."

Both Dellebuur and the former head of the South East district's
criminal intelligence section have said the Okanagan Valley is a very
ripe market for organized crime. There may only be a scattering of
full-time residents in the area that have direct gang ties, but
smaller factions are falling into the same patterns of full-fledged
organized crime. In an Okanagan College speaker series in October,
Dellebuur talked about a young teenage gang in Penticton that does
petty crimes dubbing itself Mob 8. Nothing compared to the
well-organized Hell's Angels or Independent Soldiers, but still a
factor nonetheless.

"Some of these dealers out there may say they don't have any ties
into a gang but if you look deep enough, most likely the marijuana
they are dealing originally was bought from a gang," said Dellebuur.

It is a challenge that the RCMP is dealing with locally on different
levels. The lure of flashy jewelry, high-fashion clothing, nice cars,
lots of cash and power is tough to resist.

"They are looking for places that are ripe for them to make money.
That is why we have to be vigilant so it wont happen here and there
is no guarantees that it won't happen here. It is all about the money
that can be made through illegal activities," said Dellebuur.

Penticton RCMP, community policing and other agencies have been
sitting down with some of the more prolific young offenders to see if
they can help. Sometimes it is helping with education or even as
simple as finding them a place to live or receive three square meals a day.

"When you really get down and talk to them, all people have desires
and goals other than doing drugs and committing crime and if you can
make that happen for them, it can go a long way. It is not an easy
job and for every one we have success with there is a lot more that
are missed, but we can only do what we can with the resources that we
have," said Dellebuur.

Less than one month after the gang shooting in Kelowna, which was
overshadowed by the ever increasing violence in the Lower Mainland
that even claimed the life of a young mother in front of her
four-year-old son, the province has stepped in.

"Recent gang violence has been both shocking and appalling," said
Premier Gordon Campbell in a recent announcement. "We're adding more
police officers to investigate, arrest and get violent criminals off
the street and we're dedicating more prosecutors to put criminals behind bars."

A seven-point plan to support ongoing efforts includes 168 more
police officers, 10 more prosecutors, more jails and secure courts,
tougher laws, crackdown on illegal guns, outlaw armoured vehicles and
body armour and a new gang hotline and rewards program.

Officials are rallying for change by asking the solicitor general to
not allow accused criminals double credit for time spent in jail
awaiting trial. Prisoners held in jail awaiting trial typically get
two days credit for each day served once they are convicted. Instead,
they are hoping that those who use guns while committing a crime
shouldn't get bail and want an end for the two-for-one credit.

B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal and Public Safety Minister John van
Dongen are pressing for updated wiretapping laws to help track cell
phones and other high-tech devices, authority to fingerprint suspects
when they are arrested and simplified evidence disclosure rules to
cut down long trials clogging the court system.

Campbell announced an additional $185 million to add 304 cells to the
B.C. prison system. B.C. is also adding $1 million more to a $2
million budget for education programs aimed at keeping young people
away from drugs and gangs.

In Kelowna, a 16-member satellite gang unit has been proposed and a
10-member weapons enforcement unit dedicated to seizing illegal
firearms. The announcement has Barton, who is based in Kelowna, on a
wait-and-see stance on how they will fill the bodies needed for the
gang unit. Others in the Okanagan are excited at the prospect.

"I see it as a benefit. Gang activities know no one postal code,"
said Steve McVarnock, Vernon's top cop.

"We'll be able to leverage our resources with their expertise."