GANG DRUG WAR FEARED

Expert Says Rising Gun Violence May Be A Symptom Of Crime
Battle

A deadly battle that puts innocent lives at risk is feared to be
brewing on Calgary streets as gangs clash for control of the lucrative
illegal drug trade, a renowned gang expert told the Sun. Cathy Prowse,
a former Calgary police officer who now works as a University of
Calgary criminal anthropology professor, said the recent public
shootings -- nine so far this year -- bear all the hallmarks of a turf
war.

"When you get these spates of violence that occur in a really tight
time frame and similar in that shots were fired, it is suggestive of a
power struggle for economic reasons at the level of the street gangs,"
Prowse said.

"I think with the recent number of seizures we've had with (marijuana)
grow operations in and around the Calgary area, it would be somewhat
naive to believe the power struggle isn't connected to the importation
and distribution networks of drug dealing."

And the coveted turf isn't a corner of the city or a few downtown
blocks.

"Calgary is the turf they want, but I would suggest their activities
extend well beyond the city," Prowse said.

Since Jan. 4, when Jaspreet Singh Rahal died after several shots were
fired at Northland Village, there have been eight other incidents of
open- air gunplay on our streets.

Cops have not made arrests in any of the incidents, said police Staff
Sgt. Sean Doyle, of the community response unit.

"But just because we haven't made arrests, it doesn't mean we don't
have suspects," he said.

"The one thing is we won't tolerate this and are aggressively
investigating the shootings, and we want to make sure the people we do
arrest are viable suspects."

Doyle disagreed with Prowse's assessment of a turf war, saying police
have no proof that is happening.

"There doesn't seem to be any link to the shootings, but we are
exploring that possibility," he said. "But we know the shootings are
certainly not random."

However, one thing the professor and the cop agree upon is the
potential exists for innocent bystanders to be nailed by a stray bullet.

"Certainly, we're concerned about an innocent person being hit or
killed," Doyle said.

Added Prowse: "It bothers me when I hear people say there are very specific
targets in these things and the general public is not at risk.

"I take issue with it, because with every incident of intended targets
there's always the potential for unintended consequences."

And unless something happens soon to stop the shootings -- like a
major arrest or the death of a key figure -- more people will be at
risk, Prowse said.

"It appears, if we're in a gang economic turf war, then it's going to
continue until there's a point of stability."