Last month’s increase in gang violence in the north Peace was discussed in updates from police in Fort St John and Dawson Creek for their respective city councils.
“October saw an uptick in gang related conflict in Fort St John and (the) region which included three occurrences of shots fired, which resulted in one person being wounded and non-life threatening injuries,” said the city’s Mounties in a policing update for Fort St John city council.
“As (a) result of the gun violence, several arrests have been made, and several investigations are continuing to obtain charge approval. In response to the gun violence, (Fort St John’s) street enforcement team was focused on disrupting illegal gun and drug activity while frontline members were engaged in overt enforcement.”
Support from the police’s uniformed gang enforcement team was sought and received earlier this month. The report says an update will be provided in the next monthly review from the uniformed team.
Mounties also reported an uptick in traffic related crimes. Their traffic officers, alongside B.C. Highway Patrol, issued seven 90-day immediate prohibitions due to alcohol, two day-long suspensions due to alcohol, two additional day-long driving suspensions due to drugs, and one “immediate roadside prohibition refusal,” according to Fort St John’s policing update.
Fort St John received 222 fewer calls for service compared to last year, whereas in Dawson Creek, there was a 2.5 per cent increase in the number of calls received by the Mounties.
“Property crime and mental health related issues remain the majority of calls for service,” said the Dawson Creek RCMP in a report for its city council. The police reported increases in thefts from vehicles, drug possession and trafficking, impaired driving, and theft-related reports.
Enforcement for gang and gun-related crimes was also amped up in the south Peace, the city’s force said.
“Due to recent events in the Fort St John area, the uniformed gang enforcement team just completed a deployment to the south Peace region,” the RCMP explained.
The police did not disclose any findings from the deployment at Dawson Creek City Hall. Though, the report said support from resources offered by the federal policing agency and other detachments will be made available as necessary.
The staff sergeant at the Dawson Creek RCMP tried to reassure residents by saying violence in the city is usually targeted.
