SHOOTING SPARKS POLICE CONCERN

A recent shooting of a Brampton woman is too close for Orangeville
Police Chief Rod Freeman.

"Just this most recent shooting in Brampton where the young girl was
shot through the front door of her house...even that is getting a
little too close to home," Freeman said.

As Toronto is mired in a wave of gun violence and shootouts, the
Orangeville Police Chief said the municipality is just as vulnerable
as the any other.

"There is nothing to say that that type of violence, if we are not
very careful as a community, couldn't influence us."

After a major pot bust in the summer, Freeman said organized crime is
starting to set up shop in Orangeville.

"With organized crime and certainly with the drug trade, there comes a
clear possibility that guns will be involved," he said. "That is a
concern to us and that is something we are vigilant of."

The town has seen an increase in robberies over the past year but of
the 11 incidents none have involved guns.

"Touch wood, so far we haven't been influenced by firearms violence to
any degree," Freeman stated.

Despite being free of gun violence to date, the Chief is not resting
on his laurels.

"Violence in today's society is something, as a police service, we are
very concerned about and we strive daily to protect ourselves against."

Freeman said Orangeville officers are constantly on patrol to deter
any possible criminal activity.

"We work on the small things. We make sure those smaller crimes and
those police related issues are appropriately addressed so that the
larger criminal mentality does not get the opportunity to creep into
town," he remarked.

However, the chief adds the police can't do it all by themselves. He
encourages the public to report any information on suspicious
activities or step forward as witnesses.

"They shouldn't be afraid to stand up for their rights and protect
themselves and their family."

While Freeman is concerned about the possibility of gun violence
rearing its head in Orangeville, he said it is less likely hate crimes
will make their way north. This comes after vandals in Toronto spray
painted swastikas on Jewish residents' homes and destroyed monuments
at a Jewish cemetery.

"I don't anticipate those type of crimes would strike us because our
community is not divided into different communities," Freeman said.
"If we had a cemetery specific to the Jewish community, some flags
would go up."

Freeman said history tells him this is not a major concern but added
the police service is keeping a watchful eye.

"Based on our history, hate type of crimes have not been an issue here
in town.That is not to say we are not guarded about the future.

As the town continues to grow, different cultures and ethnic groups
come into town, and we welcome that we welcome that diversity," he
said. "When you consider that we are an hour away from the most
diverse city in the world, that has got to be something that we consider."