The Calgary Police Service says the number of shooting events in 2015 to date has surpassed 2014’s total and gun violence has claimed seven lives this year.
Staff Sergeant Quinn Jacques of the CPS guns and gangs unit says there have been 63 shooting events in 2015, of which, 25 have occurred in District 5 in the northeast. In the 2014 calendar year, there were 54 shooting events in Calgary.
The CPS defines a ‘shooting event’ as an incident that includes more than one reported injury or property damage.
Police believe the vast majority of the events are targeted shootings, with the majority occurring on weekends. Investigations revealed most of the shootings are motivated by the city’s drug trade.
‘Disputes over drugs are nothing new,” said Staff Sergeant Jacques. “The use of guns to resolve these disputes has now become the rule instead of the exception. We are deeply concerned by this.”
“It’s probably in some way related to drugs, but there’s not two opposing groups. It’s very complex and fluid.”
Jacques adds the majority of firearms involved in criminal activity are easily obtained. He says guns are often illegally acquired through home break-ins, smash-and-grabs at gun shops, or smuggling.
In an effort to curb gun violence, police are attempting to open a dialogue with the offending parties.
“We are also looking at working with the groups involved to try and mediate the conflict and, perhaps, come to some sort of peace accord. We’ve done this in the past with groups that are in conflict.”
Uniformed and undercover CPS members are investigating the suspected drug trade related shootings.
“Our men and women are working seven days a week on long term investigations to try and get to the root cause of these violent events.”
Ward 5 councillor Ray Jones says Calgary’s gun violence is not a problem exclusive to the communities of his ward but he applauds the efforts of police as they attempt to keep the public safe.
“The issues all over the city,” said Jones. “It’s just a little more concentrated in the northeast.”
“I have the utmost respect for the police department and what they’re trying to do and what they are doing,” said Jones. “One of the things that came up (my meeting with police) is that the police are arresting them and the courts are letting them out. The police officers are doing their job but the court system isn’t doing theirs.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report any criminal activity through the CPS non-emergency line, 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers
“Everyone kind of turtles when something like this happens rather than report what they’ve seen,” said the Ward 5 councillor. “If there’s a drug deal going down phone it in.”
