The Kamloops RCMP and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) is responding to media reports that the city is on the verge of a gang war.
The RCMP says it would like to assure the community that efforts to disrupt and prevent organized crime from establishing a foothold in the community are ongoing. These efforts have been identified as a priority for the Detachment for a number of years, and nothing has changed in that respect, said RCMP in a statement.
The statement comes after a handful of shootings took place recently including a targeted shooting in Celista on February 7th. Another targeted shooting took place on February 18th as a 32-year-old man was shot near the intersection of Versatile Drive and Copperhead Drive.
“At this point there is nothing arising from our intelligence, investigations or community connections that support the increased threat level indicted in a recent local news article,” said Cpl Cheryl Bush, Kamloops RCMP. “While a street level drug trade does exist there is no indication of any escalating risk to the public.”
Local enforcement have been focused on suppressing and diminishing criminal activity taking place in the community, which are supported by CFSEU-BC, but both agencies say that receiving information from the public remains key in combating criminal activity.
“Recent investigations which have revealed an element of organized crime activity have certainly reinforced the need to continue this work,” explains Cpl Bush. “All units within the Detachment continuously gather intelligence and follow up on the information. These types of investigations are often met with little or no cooperation from all parties involved, leaving the police to rely on other sources and evidence to successfully prosecute those responsible for violence.”
The CFSEU-BC says it is always looking for information relating to organized crime, gangs, and others who may be involved in illegal activities. Currently police in British Columbia, led by the CFSEU-BC, are using a predictive targeting process that has modernized municipal, provincial, and federal intelligence which helps police prioritize potential threats. There is a shared responsibility for combating gang violence across policing units and partner agencies.
The RCMP asks that anyone with information that suggests there may be the ‘imminent potential’ for violence report it to police or Crime Stoppers.
