THE PAS MAYOR AT WAR WITH GANGS

Civil Liberties Official Howls At Proposed Property Ban

THE mayor of The Pas wants homeowners and businesses in his town to ban
suspected gang members from their property.

Faced with a gang problem that he maintains has kids as young as 12
slashing tires, acting as drug mules and stabbing each other, Gary Hopper
vows he is fighting back.

"If we get challenged in court for infringing on someone's rights, bring it
on," said Hopper. "We want to make them feel as uncomfortable in our
community as possible."

His council is considering banning suspected gang members from the city's
pool, library, arena and parks.

But Hopper's initiative was met with alarm yesterday by the president of
the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties.

Ken Mandzuik said Hopper's suggestion infringes on individuals' charter
rights. "The mayor is asking the community to treat people differently
because of a suspicion of what they might have done," Mandzuik said. "These
people haven't been convicted or even accused of any offence."

Mandzuik said he sympathizes with the situation residents of The Pas are
facing, but added the police are responsible for dealing with criminals.

"It just seems inappropriate," Mandzuik said.

Approximately eight licensed bars, restaurants and hotels in The Pas area
have already gotten together and decided that if one establishment bans
someone for fighting or causing problems, the trouble-maker is banned from
the others as well.

The Pas and Area Chamber of Commerce has not officially addressed the
issue, although it's on the agenda for a Thursday meeting of the executive.

But Leslie Robertson, owner of the Town Centre Hotel, said the unusual
steps were necessary. He said business owners support the mayor's hard-line
approach to the problem, adding he's aware of five rival gangs in the
community.

"We wish him luck. We want these gangs rung out of town... period,"
Robertson said. "People are still getting beaten up, having their liquor
stolen. We've got 10-year-olds running around with knives."

Robertson said gang violence was completely out of hand last summer, adding
brawls inside The Pas beverage rooms and damage to vehicles in parking lots
were commonplace.

He said businesses are sticking to their guns by turning away the usual
suspects -- and the plan is beginning to work.

"When we tell someone to go, they are listening," said Robertson. "These
people don't want to fight with us. They want to fight with each other."

Meanwhile, Hopper now wants to get homeowners involved.

He wants the town to send out notices with next month's water bill or
publish an advertisement in the local paper calling on residents to sign up
and ban gang members from their properties.

A homeowner could call police if the suspected gang member doesn't leave,
and that individual could be charged with trespassing or, in cases where
the person refuses to leave, assault by trespassing, Hopper said.