AUDITORIUM FILLS FOR ADULTS-ONLY GANG TALK

Hundreds of parents, caregivers and other adults turned out to the
Matsqui Centennial Auditorium this week for two of the last four
Abbotsford Police Department's Operation Lodestar presentations.

The two public presentations, which took place Wednesday and Thursday
evenings in both English and Punjabi, and were not intended for
children, were to help concerned adults prevent today's youth from
getting involved in drugs, criminal behaviour, or gang activity.

"Because some of the material that we're going to deal with is going
to be for parents, it's going to be everything from tips for parents .
. . all the way through to drug paraphernalia, gang wear, content of
certain video games," APD Const. Ian MacDonald said of why these two
latest presentations were not meant for kids to attend.

"We're really focusing on the adults, and I guess our justification
for that is we spoke to their kids last year."

MacDonald said there are parents who remain oblivious to their child's
behaviour, which can sometimes have tragic consequences in the future.

Citing the 2009 murders of 17-year-old Dilsher Singh Gill, and
18-year-old Joseph Randay just a few weeks before they graduated from
Abbotsford's W.J. Mouat Secondary, he said these presentations are
beneficial.

"I'm not familiar with any parent that has shown up and hasn't learned
something, or made an admission that there is an area they can do
better in," MacDonald said.

"At the higher end of the spectrum, there were some parents who really
had their eyes opened during the presentation, because a lot of the
indicators are in play."

MacDonald added the presentations are to help parents model positive
behaviour and help guide their children through good behaviour.

More than 15,000 local residents and students have taken part in the
presentations and other anti-gang programs, such as Operation Tarnish,
Operation Impact I and Operation Impact II.

MacDonald said the number of people who have taken in these
presentations is evidence the community is working to help rid the
city of criminal behaviour.