TOUGH TALK AT LODESTAR LAUNCH

Hitting The Mark: Latest Anti-gang Message Targets Parents

Abbotsford police challenged parents to attend their latest anti-gang
messaging forum at Robert Bateman Secondary Wednesday night, and
hundreds of them answered the call.

The school's gym, packed with parents who came to hear police address
the city's 'murder capital of Canada' moniker, echoed Mayor George
Peary's message.

"There are some dangerous things going on here," Peary cautioned the
audience.

"Crime prevention is too important to be left to police. It's a
community-wide endeavour."

Peary said law enforcement is just one part of the solution to
protecting the community, and its youth, from organized crime and gang
influence. To be truly effective, he said, police need the support of
lawmakers, politicians, teachers, and most importantly parents.

Many parents in the audience were looking for answers on how to
protect their children from the growing influence of gang-related
violence in the Lower Mainland.

One father, Wayne, who didn't want his last named used, said he moved
his young family to Abbotsford to get away from violence, and was at
the forum Wednesday night to listen to what police had to say.

"The murder rate in Abbotsford is a little scary. We just moved out
from Surrey three years ago, because we thought it would be safer,"
Wayne said. "There is no real safe community anywhere . . . and the
murders are a little bit frightening."

Hoping to glean information he can use to help him parent his three
seven-year-old boys, Wayne said he wants to understand why youth are
turning to a life of violence and crime.

"What leads children down that road?" he asked. "Off the right path to
one that is obviously very wrong."

Parents who lead by positive example, Sgt. Mike Novakowski said, give
children the chance to model their good behaviour, as opposed to
modeling negative behaviour, which can lead to poor life choices.

"We're not here because we think all parents are bad parents. We know
that most parents love their kids, and will do whatever they can to
teach their kids right from wrong," Novakowski said.

"We know as a police department, the power in parenting."

Novakowski said sharing information with parents about the social and
criminal pressures youth in Abbotsford face is paramount for them to
make decisions about their children's behaviour.

"We know you care, the fact you're here shows that," he
said.

Chief Const. Bob Rich said the lure of easy money selling marijuana
and cocaine attracts young people.

Human trafficking is also becoming big business, Rich told the
audience, and parents need to be proactive and vigilant to protect
their children.

"It's a party they go to where they meet the wrong people, it's an
association or friendship with the wrong people, it's wanting to look
cool at school," Rich said.

"It's an easier path for certain people."

- - For more information on Lodestar, go online to www.abbypd.ca .