Chair of Police Services Board to meet with Police Chief about resources to combat gang violence

Chair of Police Services Board to meet with Police Chief about resources to combat gang violence

Posted on 12/29/2014 11:17:00 AM by Sarah Anderson

The head of the Ottawa Police Services Board is meeting with the Chief of Police this week to discuss resources and whether or not the service can fight ongoing gang violence without expanding its membership.

Originally the Ottawa Police Service was supposed to grow by 23 members in 2015 but because of budget constraints that is no longer the case.

Chief Charles Bordeleau has told CFRA News he can manage the ongoing issues by redistributing officers to where they're needed most but Councillor Eli El-Chantiry wants to know if, in fact, that will be enough.

El-Chantiry said on Mark Sutcliffe's Chatroom that when we're talking about fighting the city's established gangs and drug trade, enforcement is only one side of the issue.

"None of the gang members are testifying in court against others so that is a challenge. So, what we need is, we need our community to help us," said El-Chantiry.

"I'm sure those gang members have mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, someone who knows about their activities and they can help us if they share that information with the police. That's where we need the community involvement."

El-Chantiry said more also needs to be done to get illegal handguns off the streets and to eliminate the market for the drugs that are being sold and traded by the city's gangs, fuelling their activity.

[Hey El-Chantiry, would YOU turn in your son or daughter if they were involved in illegal activities?  Would you rather see your child in jail from your own testimony than in your home where you can talk to him/her, try to help him/her, and above all show love?!  Nobody will rat on their own kid; nor should they.  Ps, cops are being pulled from other duties to now work in this gang task force in Ottawa... INCREASED POLICING IS NOT THE ANSWER!!  GANGS ARE A RESULT OF STRUCTURAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES- NOT A RESULT OF LACK OF CAMERAS OR POLICING!  THIS CITY IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE WILD WEST!  PLEASE RECORD!!!!  CHARTER RIGHTS STILL APPLY, REGARDLESS OF THE SUSPICIONS THEY HAVE OR PROFILING THEY DO!!]