NO EASY ANSWERS TO GANG VIOLENCE

On the first weekday back after a Saturday afternoon shooting at
Burnaby's busiest mall, Burnaby's top cop said he's very worried
about the escalating levels of gang violence in the region.

"I'm very concerned about this," said Chief Supt. Rick Taylor of the
Burnaby RCMP. "What concerns me is the wanton disregard for the
safety of people in the community and of the police officers who have
to try to ensure public safety."

Taylor said the Saturday afternoon shooting of 32-year-old longtime
Vancouver gangster and convicted killer Gurmit Singh Dhak in a
Metropolis at Metrotown parking lot troubles him on many levels.

"There may not have been a lot of people in the area, but you never
know where the bullets are going to end up," said Taylor. "It's not
impossible that an innocent passerby would have been hurt and that
concerns me greatly."

Taylor said the welfare of the officers under his command is also important.

"We have officers who regularly patrol in the area," said Taylor. "My
worst fear is that an innocent member of the public or one of my
members is hit by an errant bullet. ... My officers are trying to
protect the community, and any time members of the community or my
officers are put in danger, these are the things that keep me awake at night."

Burnaby's top cop said that while the murder took place in Burnaby,
it could have happened anywhere in the Lower Mainland.

"It was a very, very targeted hit. It happened to happen at
Metrotown. It happened where the intended target was found in a
vulnerable place," said Taylor. "This is not about stepping up
patrols at Metrotown, it's about how we look at and approach the
overall problem of gang violence."

Taylor said gang violence has been on the radar for the region's top
cops, ever since the Oct 2007 Surrey Six killings led to a wave of
gang killings all throughout the Lower Mainland.

"I think this speaks to the overall problem of gangs, guns and
drugs," said Taylor. "It would seem to me that we wouldn't have this
problem of gangs feuding over market share if we didn't have the
market for this product.

"We can debate about legalizing (soft) drugs such as marijuana, but
it's not just about marijuana, it's about harder drugs such as hash,
cocaine and ecstasy. ... It's about gangs feuding over how to feed
that market."

But as easy as it is for Taylor to recognize the problem, he said the
solutions aren't quite as simple.

"I don't profess to have the solutions, but we in the policing
community are doing everything we can to investigate and prosecute
where we can. I think, as a community, we need to sit up and take notice."

Taylor said that while people may be drawn to the allure of the quick
riches of the drug trade, the police have to show the seedier side of
the trade to people who may be tempted.

"How do we make the changes? I don't know," said Taylor. "What I can
say is that as long as there is a drug market to service, organized
crime will continue to service that market."

Taylor said that government and the justice system also has to do its
part, by enacting and enforcing tougher legislation for those caught
in the drug trade.

"We need to get significant sentences for people who get caught," said Taylor.

"We need to make it painful for people who decide to make their
living in the drug trade."

With no easy answers, Taylor does make a plea to those people
directly involved in the drug trade.

"I remember what it was like several years ago (in 2007 and 2008)
when there was that escalating level of gang violence," said Taylor.
"I hope, I really hope that's not what's happening now.

"I hope the criminals have some decency and realize it's not just
about them plying their trade, it's about public safety. Have some
decency, don't lose sight that the violence may affect your own families."