PUBLIC MUST HELP FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME

Re: Don't You Believe It, Aug. 31.

The Citizen editorial is correct in stating that organized crime is real.
It has been a priority issue for the law enforcement community for a number
of years. The Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) report does
indicate, for good reason, that organized crime activities are a threat to
all Canadians and that organized crime activities threaten the fabric of
Canadian society.

The Canadian law enforcement community would be remiss in its collective
duty not to alert Canadians to that fact.

We agree that organized crime cannot be tackled exclusively by law
enforcement. The public needs to work with us -- and this is what was
highlighted in the CISC report. We want Canadians to be aware that
participating in a black-market economy -- buying illicit alcohol,
cigarettes and drugs, as well as stolen goods -- helps fund and support
organized crime activities. Additionally, the impact and cost of organized
crime to society is evident in such actions as rising insurance costs and
increasing tax dollars dedicated to social programs.

One of the roles of the RCMP, CISC and the law enforcement community in
general is to gather intelligence and respond to all threats. The CISC
report is not about garnering public support for additional funds for law
enforcement. It is about our responsibility to educate Canadians and work
together to stop organized crime.

Giuliano Zaccardelli,

Ottawa

Commissioner, RCMP Chair of Criminal Intelligence Service Canada