By Frank Bucholtz, columnist
The latest raft of shootings in Surrey – most during the daylight hours in quiet residential neighbourhoods – once again shows that criminals have no respect for anyone else, including innocent people.
While police have repeatedly said most of the shooters and their targets are people involved in the lower levels of drug gangs, that offers little comfort to most people. Innocent people have been killed in these shootings in the past, and there is no guarantee it won’t happen again.
During the last municipal election campaign in 2014, much of the campaign rhetoric involved crime and random shootings. Various proposals were put forward. The Surrey First slate, which won all nine seats on council under new Mayor Linda Hepner, followed up by hiring 100 new police officers and a director of public safety strategies. Since that time, the city has hired a smaller number each year.
While shootings are not at the level that they were at last year, each shooting is one too many. This is particularly true when the shooting involves someone driving by and firing at a home, vehicle or perhaps a person who happens to be outdoors.
Surrey RCMP have a pretty good idea of who is doing the shooting, and who the intended targets are. On July 31, they published photos of five young men who have been targets, and stated it was being done to warn people who associate with them that they may be at risk – simply by being with any one of the five. Two of the five are Surrey residents.
While that move was rare and, in some circles, controversial, it simply involved police issuing a more detailed warning to the public. Most members of the public appreciate that consideration.
“I know the residents of this city are frustrated. I hear all of your concerns and I share your frustration,” said Assistant Commisssioner Dwayne McDonald, officer in charge of Surrey RCMP, on July 31. “However, I do want you to know that we are making headway and we are aware of a number of people who are involved. As a result, our number of shots fired and our violent crime overall have been declining, but we need to keep the pressure on to ensure this recent uptick doesn’t continue.”
On Aug. 8, there were three shootings in Surrey – one in Fleetwood and two more in Cloverdale. These followed another random shooting incident in Clayton two days earlier, which led to the seizure of weapons, drug paraphernalia and explosives.
The shootings are not confined to Surrey. They have been taking place in many parts of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Hepner met with Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth last week. The NDP campaigned in the recent provincial election on expanding the Surrey WRAP program, designed to keep young people away from drug gangs. That was one topic of discussion. Farnworth said there will be an announcement on the program shortly.
Both also issued warning to those involved in the shootings, saying they will be caught and sent to jail. Farnworth said family members who shield those involved in the shootings are doing them no favours.
“They are in essence complicit in some of the violence that’s taking place,” he said.
Some people may think that the legalization of marijuana, set to take place next year, will reduce the number of people involved in selling drugs illegally, and thus reduce the numbers of people in drug gangs. It is highly unlikely there will be any significant reduction on the number of people involved in illegal activities.
People who make money from drugs will find another way to make money illegally. There are many other drugs out there (fentanyl being one of the latest and most dangerous). There are many other activities criminals take part in to make money. They are always willing to take up another line of crime.
Meantime, Surrey residents have to put up with their gun-focused disputes. It’s not right.
Frank Bucholtz writes Fridays for the Now-Leader. He can be emailed at frank.bucholtz@gmail.com