POLICE WARN GANGS ARE STILL ACTIVE IN CITY

Violence drops in Calgary and across country

CALGARY - Gang-related violence in Calgary is declining, but
authorities have ample evidence criminal groups are still in business.

A Statistics Canada report issued this week showed the number of
gang-related homicides in Canada dropped in 2009 -- and Calgary was in
keeping with the national trend as a local gang war seemed to cool.

The conflict between the FOB and FOB Killers gangs has been
responsible for at least 25 homicides since 2002 -- but none since
early 2009.

Several veteran members of both gangs have been taken off the streets,
and are either in custody awaiting trial serving prison sentences
after being convicted.

But if the violence has died down, police officials say it's partly
because they have maintained their pressure on the gang members who
remain free.

"The day-to-day business for police hasn't changed," said Insp. Guy
Slater of the major crimes section.

But there's evidence the everyday illegal business of gangs in Alberta
is continuing, even if they aren't shooting at each other in the
streets. For instance, police seized almost $90 million worth of
marijuana from illegal grow operations in southern Alberta during 2009
- -- a significant increase over the previous year, when authorities
netted $60 million.

"We shouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security because
criminals aren't killing each other at the rate they were previously,"
said Mount Royal University criminologist Doug King. "Police officers
on the street will tell me the gang activity is still there."

Of the 26 homicides in Calgary in 2009, five were gang related -- and
among those, four were linked to the ongoing conflict between the FOB
and FOB Killers gangs.

Gang violence was partly responsible for pushing Calgary to a
near-historic high of 32 homicides in 2008 -- eight of which had some
connection to gang activity.

The bloodshed prompted police to pour resources into stemming the tide
of violence.

Officials estimated more than 600 officers and civilians took part in
the probe of the gang-related triple slaying at Bolsa Restaurant on
Jan. 1, 2009. One of the victims, Keni Su'a, was a bystander shot
while trying to leave the restaurant.

Four men have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with
the case, and there hasn't been a gang-related killing in Calgary
since mid-2009.

"Bolsa became a rallying point," Slater said. "Nobody sat still -- all
of our police resources are very much focused on detecting, disrupting
and dismantling organized crime groups."

With the Bolsa investigation yielding tangible results, the climate of
fear surrounding gang-related crime has softened and people have been
more apt to co-operate with police, Slater said.

"Success begets success," he said.