'CRIME PACKAGE' ADDS FIVE OFFICERS TO GUNS, GANG UNIT

After previously being given the cold shoulder, the Hamilton Police
Service will get $425,000 in provincial funding to boost its guns and
gang unit, after all.

Premier Dalton McGuinty dropped by Central Station Wednesday morning
to announce a new "crime package" that will provide $6.3 million for
anti-guns and gang efforts at police forces outside of Toronto.

His government had already provided $51 million to Toronto last
year.

Hamilton's share of the new money is enough to hire five officers. The
existing guns and gangs unit presently has five officers, but has had
as many as 15.

"It's welcome news, obviously. It's something that chiefs across the
province have been pushing for, for quite some time," Chief Brian
Mullan said.

"In the end, I'm just very, very happy that the money has come
forward. It makes a loud statement in regards to community safety here
in Hamilton."

Chief Mullan had written Community Safety and Correctional Service
Minister Monte Kwinter last September expressing concern that the
government's previous $51-million initiative only benefitted Toronto.

"As predicted," he wrote, gang activity shifted elsewhere, including
to Hamilton, where there had been 45 shootings as of last September.
"This has occurred despite the fact that we have tripled the size of
our Gangs and Guns Unit."

After Chief Mullan took his plea to the premier, Mr. Kwinter responded
just six weeks ago with a letter offering warm sentiments but no cash.

He instead heaped praise on his government's efforts to combat gun
violence and noted Hamilton had hired 37 new officers under a
shared-cost Safer Communities partnership designed to add 1,000
officers province-wide.

"You may rest assured that your concerns regarding the prevention of
gun and gang displacement are being taken seriously," Mr. Kwinter wrote.

Besides now answering the chief's request, Mr. Kwinter also hinted
Hamilton will get one more officer under the Safer Communities
partnership.

Wednesday's announcement also provides $5.7-million for five other
provincial initiatives. These include:

- --$400,000 for the creation of an advisory group to develop ways to
reduce risks to public safety from marijuana grow operations;

- --$2 million for a new methamphetamine response team targeting
crystal-meth labs;

- --$1 million to expand an OPP unit that works with municipal forces to
seize illegal gains from gangs and other criminal organizations;

- --$900,000 for a new intelligence-gathering unit to identify gang
members;

- --$1.4 million in additional support for Crown attorneys to improve
their response to gun crimes.

Chief Mullan said the initiatives on grow operations, asset seizure
and Crown attorney support are particularly helpful for Hamilton.

"When you look at why organized crime does what they do, it's all
about greed, so when you take the financial component away from them,
it hits them hard. It hits at the roots."

Provincial cash 'loud statement' on community safety, chief says.