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Trojan97 · 08-28-2008, 01:52 AM

I went to High School with five of the people arrested. I can tell you one thing, if the police are satisfied with a bust of this magnitude they have some seriously low standards for their fight against gang activity.

Of the five I know, ONE is actually relatively involved in the day to day gang life. Kristie being considered a violent gangster is pretty laughable, the other three are low level coke dealers who have the gang connections via the drugs they sell I'm sure but they are also the lowest rung on the gangbanger ladder. These arrests are good to see but in the grand scheme of things mean very little in the sense of change. Hell, Leon Li has been in and out of jail over the past four years and this is the first time I've seen his name in the papers or on TV.

The timing of these arrests is interesting as well what with the recent announcement from Rick Hanson saying he wants 200 more officers and with Bronconnier set to meet with Stelmach to request the additional cash to fight the gang problems. Well played by the CPS to make themselves look sharp while they have the public eye on them.

The gang issue in this city is definitely a huge issue, and as a Justice student I truly believe the CPS is doing the best they can with the resources they have. Just like I think corrections and the judicial branch are doing the best with what they have. People need to keep in mind how understaffed and under funded these sectors are. Take a trip out to the remand center and see just how over populated our prisons have become. It's amazing how many inmates they have managed to pack into that place, they are simply running out of room to put people, and this is exactly why you see instances like this where 13 low level "thugs" are released on bail rather then spending time incarcerated. They simply aren't a big enough threat.

It's a tough situation all around, the 25 million would be a huge first step towards fighting the gang problem in Calgary but there is still a VERY long way to go when it comes to recessitating the Justice system in Alberta.

08-28-2008, 01:52 AM	#37
Trojan97 First Line Centre Join Date: Jan 2004 Exp:	I went to High School with five of the people arrested. I can tell you one thing, if the police are satisfied with a bust of this magnitude they have some seriously low standards for their fight against gang activity. Of the five I know, ONE is actually relatively involved in the day to day gang life. Kristie being considered a violent gangster is pretty laughable, the other three are low level coke dealers who have the gang connections via the drugs they sell I'm sure but they are also the lowest rung on the gangbanger ladder. These arrests are good to see but in the grand scheme of things mean very little in the sense of change. Hell, Leon Li has been in and out of jail over the past four years and this is the first time I've seen his name in the papers or on TV. The timing of these arrests is interesting as well what with the recent announcement from Rick Hanson saying he wants 200 more officers and with Bronconnier set to meet with Stelmach to request the additional cash to fight the gang problems. Well played by the CPS to make themselves look sharp while they have the public eye on them. The gang issue in this city is definitely a huge issue, and as a Justice student I truly believe the CPS is doing the best they can with the resources they have. Just like I think corrections and the judicial branch are doing the best with what they have. People need to keep in mind how understaffed and under funded these sectors are. Take a trip out to the remand center and see just how over populated our prisons have become. It's amazing how many inmates they have managed to pack into that place, they are simply running out of room to put people, and this is exactly why you see instances like this where 13 low level "thugs" are released on bail rather then spending time incarcerated. They simply aren't a big enough threat. It's a tough situation all around, the 25 million would be a huge first step towards fighting the gang problem in Calgary but there is still a VERY long way to go when it comes to recessitating the Justice system in Alberta.