Abby meeting on gang violence with Police Chief Bob Rich

“Only thing we have to Fear is Fear Itself”. These were the words of former United States President Franklin Roosevelt at his first Inaugural address in 1933. This is exactly what the citizens of Abbotsford accomplished at the crime forum on community safety, earlier this week. The overflowing crowd of 400 concerned citizens from all walks of life came into the Matsqui Auditorium and voiced their thoughts on how to make the community safer. With four shootings in a period of six days recently, the movement to end this deadly violence on the streets has never been stronger. I applaud Abbotsford Mayor George Peary for leading this discussion and the citizens to have the courage to speak out and tackle the evil causes that are destroying the fabrics of our fine city in the country and surrounding communities.
I missed the meeting, but had a friend record the three-hour discussion on Shaw and was impressed. Speaking with Mayor George Peary, he said, “ I am grateful for the turnout and the ideas that were presented throughout the evening”. Peary’s main focus is on building stronger neighborhoods and having elementary schools as community centers where people can meet and get to know one another. “ Stronger neighborhoods build stronger communities”, said Peary. The mayor also mentioned they are looking seriously at crime prevention strategies that the City of Surrey has implemented with enormous success.
Newly appointed, Abbotsford Police Chief Constable Bob Rich, who just recently came to Abby in July of last year after spending 28 years with Vancouver Police presented a power point presentation of the various strategies involved to tackle gang violence and crime. He mentioned six strategic goals: suppressing gang crime, reducing property crime by 30 percent, effective response to calls for service (seven minutes to respond to emergency calls), reducing violent crime with new resources dedicated to domestic violence and reducing street disorder (open-air drug trade, prostitution and aggressive pan handling).
Rich, also mentioned Abbotsford close proximity to the border where many guns are making it across the line. “ Too many guns, are response has yet to be appropriate”, he said. “ When you look at horrible killings of innocent children caught in crossfire in Ontario and Quebec. The provincial governments and police were given resources to respond. I don’t want that to be the case here. I want our response to be appropriate”. Rich stated, that innocent lives have already been taken by gang activity in our province.
The Chief clearly explains, “ we have a particular crisis right now”. “ Generally, the level of violence in the Fraser Valley and Lower mainland communities is the biggest policing problem in the province”. Hiring more police officers is not the total solution to this growing dilemma, which Abbotsford is budgeted to hire nine recruits for 2009. But, working more effectively with various law enforcement agencies, crown counsel, courts and advocating for a better response, will make the community safer, added Rich.
In establishing these responses, Rich said, more collaborative focus should be given to specialized law enforcement units, which falls under provincial jurisdiction. Some of these units include: Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), Integrated Gang Task Force (IGTF) and the Violence Suppression Team.
Deputy Police Chief Rick Lucy echoed the same thoughts and gives credit to the Mayor Peary for initiating this discussion as he promised during his campaign. “ He got the community together, more discussion, which will lead to action”, said Lucy.
KenHerar@gmail.com