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Post by CRCP on Jul 18, 2005 9:46:35 GMT -5
In the July 18, 2005 issue of the Daily Courier appears the front-page article "Gangs Lured By Profit." The article goes on to state "The same things that attract legitimate businesses to Kelowna lured the Hells Angels here." According to RCMP Inspector Bob Paulson "The growth of Kelowna, the size of the community and the lifestyle would all be factors in why the Hells Angels are there." So here we have an RCMP official clearly stating that growth and community size are factors contributing to Kelowna's growing crime problem.
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Post by Rick Shea on Jul 18, 2005 10:04:16 GMT -5
I presume that part of that "lifestyle" includes a social climate where most people would rather point fingers at their neighbors, squabble with each other over trivial issues, be obsessed with greed, and in general devalue the lives of those around them -- they'd rather do that than truly deal with the problems.
Any criminal element would be happy to live in that milieu.
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Post by John Zeger on Jul 20, 2005 7:23:45 GMT -5
On July 19, 2005 Castanet reports that there was a 61% increase in vehicle thefts from this period last year. The article desribed vehicle thefts as "crimes of opportunity." Well, as there are more people moving here all the time bringing on the average of two vehicles with them, the opportunities for crime here have become greater. No wonder that the criminal element is descending upon Kelowna. With all the growth this city is experiencing, the opportunities for them are almost endless. Kelowna has become a criminal's paradise.
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Post by Rick Shea on Jul 20, 2005 8:46:17 GMT -5
I note that the recent raids on the Hells Angels may have temporarily halted their plans to set up a chapter in Kelowna (originally planned to be in place by Christmas 2005).
Any predictions on when it will happen? I'm guessing some time in 2006, unless the RCMP are successful in having them declared a criminal organization. Even at that, I'm sure that the unofficial chapter we already have here will continue.
The RCMP consider them to be a criminal organization. The Hells Angels don't set up chapters in small towns (is there one in Spuzzum? I don't think so). So, by inference from the above, the RCMP think that growth brings in the criminals. They've said as much in recent newspaper articles.
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Post by John Zeger on Jul 20, 2005 9:22:55 GMT -5
Kelowna RCMP Superintendent Bill McKinnon was on the CKOV Open Line show this morning, July 20, 2005. He was asked by Kim Calloway "Why are the Hells Angels in Kelowna?" In mentioning some of the reasons Supt. McKinnon cited that Kelowna was "a growing community, one of the fastest growing communities in Canada and that outside of the mainland it is the second largest city in B.C." So Supt. McKinnon is now the second RCMP official (in addition to Vancouver RCMP Inspector Bob Paulson) within the past few days to clearly identify rate of population growth and overall population size in explaining the reasons why the Hells Angels are here.
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Post by John Zeger on Sept 28, 2006 9:54:16 GMT -5
In an excellent editorial "Can't Separate Crime and Growth" published Sept. 27, 2006 the Kelowna Capital News clearly establishes the connection between growth and increased crime while also commenting on the impact of that growth on the city's character. Can't Separate Crime and Growth Sep 27 2006 As a member of the local media, it is not hard to make an argument that Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon is way off base. His contention, speaking before city council on Monday, that the media isn't getting the message out to the public about how police are making a signficant dent in reducing crime in many categories. Speaking for our own newspaper, those facts have been presented many times over. Enough said. And it's not that the media generally here are not getting the message out, it's that many local residents are tuned into a different frequency these days, particularly those who have lived here all or most of their lives, have seen a change in Kelowna. It is evolving, quickly, from an intimate rural community to a bustling, fast-paced city. That is something that crime statistics don't reflect, something that creates an impression that perhaps only time can erase. Supt. McKinnon can trump out crime statistics to the media until he his blue in the face, but it doesn't change the fact many of our residents have an uncomfortable feeling about how the city is changing, something that positive crime reduction statistics can't erode. That's nobody's fault in particular, just an evolution in our city's growth that not everyone likes. |
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Post by John Zeger on Oct 17, 2006 10:11:57 GMT -5
It is being reported that Vietamese gangs are setting up shop in Kelowna. I used to live in Edmonton where they were responsible for scores of drive-by shootings, something that one associates with large cities such as LA. Look what growth has brought us!
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Post by Rick Shea on Oct 20, 2006 14:44:45 GMT -5
Yes, the first time we have a drive-by shooting in Kelowna, people will throw their hands up in the air and wail "How could this happen here, in Kelowna, of all places?" There will be sudden calls for more policing, a crack-down on crime, for city council to do something, and on and on and on.
Unfortunately, as is clearly evident from what has happened in every other growing city, things will only continue to get worse.
As so many other similar responses to other events have indicated, that's pretty typical human behaviour, and one has to wonder in every case, what did they expect?
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