OPERATION RECLAMATION
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Choose all that apply.
bury head in sand
Youth Help Line
Operation Tarnish
Operation Impact
Operation Veritas
Operation Impact II
Project ‘Congraduations’
Operation Lodestar
Operation Reclamation
to be continued
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GANGBUSTERS
gangbusters (slang) - police engaged in combatting organized criminal groups or gangs;
- with great impact, vigour, or zeal; energetically, effectively.
Backdrop
In 2008 the Abbotsford-Mission Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) was the murder capital of
Canada, having a rate of 4.7 homicides per 100,000 residents (the Canadian average was 1.8).
During that same year 29% of B.C.‘s homicides were gang related. A Statistics Canada report on
homicides for the 10 year period from 1999 to 2008 also showed that more than 58% of
Abbotsford-Mission homicides were committed with a firearm, the highest percentage of any CMA
(ahead of the next closest CMA, Toronto at 45%).
In 2009 the Abbotsford-Mission CMA was again dubbed the murder capital of Canada (a rate of
5.2 homicides per 100,000 residents - the Canadian
average was 1.8). Of those murdered in 2009 were two
local high school students, Dilsher Gill (17 years old) and
Joseph Randay (18 years old), as well as two other young
men, Ryan Richards (19 years old) and Sean Murphy (21
years old). All four were believed to be connected to gang
activity, some distant and tenuous.
With this backdrop, the Abbotsford Police Department
(APD) launched a series of new crime prevention initiatives.
Youth Help Line
On May 14, 2009 APD Chief Bob Rich led a press
conference to address community concerns around youth
involvement in gang activity. A key component of the
Chief’s message was that some of Abbotsford’s youth
involved in gang activity and the drug trade were in
significant danger. This was worthy of a public warning. The
message to them was that they must speak to a parent, a
teacher, a counselor, a coach or a police officer to change
the direction of their lives. The APD, the City of Abbotsford,
and the Abbotsford School District established a “Youth
Help Line” to assist kids who wanted out. This line was
routed to a police officer for 24/7 coverage. Parents, friends
and youth involved in gang and drug activities were
encouraged to call the number to break free of
circumstances that put them at risk. A letter and flyer
advising parents and others of this significant
announcement were also distributed. Additional
information and links were available at the City, School
District, and APD websites.
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Operation Tarnish
Operation Impact
In November 2009 the APD launched “Operation
Impact – Warning, Informing and Encouraging”.
This one hour audio-visual and presentation based
program exposed secondary students (public and
independent) not only to the realities that have been
part of the previous initiatives but also focused on
the positive accomplishments of the vast majority of
the young people in the community.
6,500+ students
In September 2009 the APD launched
“Operation Tarnish: Taking the Shine off the
Gang Lifestyle” to coincide with the start of the
school year. The intention of this initiative was
to prevent young people from being lured by
the alleged appeal of a life that includes gangs
and drugs. A core component of Operation
Tarnish was a series of posters modeled after
Health Canada’s warning labels. Because there
is no soft sell for the anti-gang lifestyle, each
poster contained a serious graphic and an
engaging phrase using language familiar to
youth. The objective of the posters was to
generate thought, provoke dialogue and focus
attention on this challenge facing the
community. Operation Tarnish was a
continuation of the commitment by the APD to
do something about the problem. A new poster
was released about every three weeks
throughout the school year.
Operation Veritas
In April 2010 the APD launched “Operation Veritas” (latin for truth), a series of short anti-gang videos
to challenge the myth that gangs are as desirable and cool as the media, video games, and music
portray them to be. The theme of each video was that criminal involvement is “senseless” and comes
at a price. The videos depict both the real cost of criminal behaviour in terms of dollars and the life
altering consequences that go far beyond the simple monetary costs. The videos then juxtapose these
scenarios with the choice of a crime free lifestyle which
the APD believes is “priceless”. The videos were also
uploaded to YouTube and displayed on video screens in
public buildings in the City of Abbotsford as well as in
Abbotsford Secondary Schools. Many media and
community partners agreed to host, link or publicize
these videos. Local newspapers and radio stations
demonstrated a strong commitment to the community by
their generosity in promoting this campaign. All of the
videos were filmed on location in Abbotsford and used
community members supportive of the project rather
than paid actors.
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Operation Impact II
In May 2010 the APD took “Operation Impact II” into Abbotsford
Middle Schools, both public and independent. The message to
students was to make positive choices in life. Chief Bob Rich warned
the students about the dangers of the gang and drug lifestyle while
other messaging included bullying and building inner strength to
enhance positive decision making.
5,500+ students
Project ‘Congraduations’
In 2010 the Abbotsford School District released a survey
involving more than 5,300 students in grades 8-12 that
revealed only 16% of them perceived the adults in the
community valued them. As one way of showing students that
the APD valued them, Chief Bob Rich arranged for a letter be
given to each graduate at their graduation ceremony
congratulating them on their accomplishment. As well, Chief
Bob Rich sent a personal video message to each Secondary
School which could be played at the graduation ceremonies
and ads were taken out in local newspapers.
Operation Lodestar
In September 2010 “Operation Lodestar” was launched.
Lodestar means one who serves as a guide or model.
Crime prevention starts at home. Preventative efforts
should not be limited to schools and educational
institutions where the focus is only on young people.
Parents and other caregivers play a crucial role in public
safety, and crime prevention should start at an early
age. Chief Bob Rich, along with Mayor George Peary,
invited all parents of Abbotsford school students to
attend one of 13 community presentations. Eleven
presentations were held at high schools while two were
hosted at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. Three
presentations were delivered in Punjabi. The
presentations were intended to engage, educate and
encourage parents. The session identified a number of
things parents or caregivers could do to mitigate the risk
factors leading to criminal behaviour, including:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
setting the example
being informed
supporting school
making the rules
getting involved
2,000+ parents
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OPERATION RECLAMATION
reclamation (n) - rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course
Extreme Makeover: “Gangsta Wrap”
“This Vehicle Was Seized From A Drug Trafficker”, written on both sides and the rear of the
vehicle, delivers the message that proceeds and instruments of unlawful activity are subject to
forfeiture. Civil forfeiture proceedings are separate from criminal law and do not rely on a
finding of guilt, nor is the evidentiary standard as stringent as “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
Instead, the evidentiary standard is a balance of probabilities. This particular vehicle was
forfeited under BC’s Civil Forfeiture Act and the Province of British Columbia is allowing APD
to use this vehicle for the purpose of supporting APD’s crime remediation and awareness
programs in the community, especially those targeting youth. The H2 used for “Operation
Reclamation” was seized from an individual involved in drug trafficking and firearms
possession.
“10-85” - the 10 represents the
year APD acquired the vehicle
from the Civil Forfeiture Office
while 85 represents the fleet unit
number.
10-85 is also police radio code for
“record of drugs”.
“Gang Life Is A Dead End” originates from APD’s Operation Tarnish messaging initiative.
Personalized licence plate “ABBYPD” with www.
and .ca represents APD’s internet website address.
www.abbypd.ca
“Easy Money Can Get
You Hard Time” is
based on an Operation
Tarnish Poster.
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“Got Bling?” was the winning poster
submission in APD’s Operation Tarnish
poster contest. The winner was a grade 10
student from W.J. Mouat, Teagan Plett.
“Be The Change” is an oft quoted
statement from Ghandi, also highlighted
in Operation Tarnish.
“Choose a Crime Free Lifestyle” is a
constant piece of APD messaging,
acknowledging life is about a series of
choices.
“We’ll Catch You Ridin’ Dirty”. The term
“ridin’ dirty” is slang for driving in an
automobile with illegal drugs and/or
firearms. This phrase also appeared on
one of APD’s Operation Tarnish posters.
“Every Choice Has A Consequence”
again recognizes the reality that choices
come with consequences.
“Kids Learn What they Live” is based on
APD’s Operation Lodestar parent/
caregiver initiative. Included on this
graphic are five important steps for
effective parenting.
“Handguns and drug deals are frequent companions, but not good friends.
Rip-offs happen. Shootings do to. Caveat emptor. Caveat venditor.
People get hurt. People get killed.
Sometimes, the buyer. Other times, the seller.”
Ontario Court of Appeal in R. v. Simon, 2010 ONCA 754
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Messaging Matters
Youth are exposed to a variety of media that portray the criminal lifestyle as something to be
glorified and admired. Media formats include movies, television, music, and video games. In an
effort to intervene and prevent young people from being lured by the alleged appeal of a life that
includes gangs and drugs, APD has launched several anti-gang, anti-drug, and anti-crime countermessages. In addition to the messaging sent by active enforcement and intervention strategies APD
officers engage in on a daily basis as they encounter youth who come into conflict with the law,
the APD has also used other messaging formats to generate thought, provoke dialogue and focus
attention on this challenge facing our community. Operation Reclamation adds to APD’s arsenal of
message delivery. This vehicle is a rolling billboard and, according to industry specialists, 90% of
travellers notice graphics on wrapped vehicles, which can generate 30,000 to 70,0000 daily
vehicular impressions. Other messaging formats have included:
bumper stickers
bus benches
projection billboards
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phone room
fingerprint room
APD’s cellblock area
mugshot backdrop
jail cell ceiling
school message
boards
ice arena boards
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post secondary hallways
local bars & pubs
Abbotsford Police Department
2838 Justice Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3P5
Phone (604) 859-5225 Fax (604) 864-4809
Bob Rich
“Protecting with Pride”
Abbotsford Heat
game night
Chief Constable
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Our Mission:
To make Abbotsford the safest city in BC
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Veritas goes big
screen at the AESC
Debunking the Myth
strife - violent conflict; trouble; struggle.
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2009 to 2010
A Comprehensive Gang
Suppression Strategy
With tremendous community support,
the Abbotsford Police Department has
created a comprehensive anti-gang
strategy that emphasizes both
prevention and enforcement. The 15
person Gang Suppression Unit, which
was formed in the Spring of 2010, has
played a crucial role in community
safety by making key arrests of gang
involved individuals and
through timely interdictions of
criminal activities. Equally important
is that this unit is constantly
gathering and sharing intelligence
with other law enforcement agencies
to ensure that the police throughout
the Province are equipped to deal
with gangs that are not restricted by
geographic, political or policing
boundaries. The combination of
effective enforcement with
unparalleled anti-gang messaging and
prevention programs has advanced the
Abbotsford Police Department toward
its mission of making Abbotsford the
safest city in British Columbia.
Murder
64%
Gang/drug related murder
75%
Serious shots fired
65%
Youth crime
We believe our comprehensive gang
suppression strategy has made a
difference in our community. The
statistics demonstrate that our efforts
are making an impact. That said, we
recognize our work is far from over. In
fact, in many ways we have only taken
a few steps forward in a challenge that
requires constant, concerted and
continued attention. We gladly accept
all that the challenge requires because
we know our city and our youth are
worth it.
21%
Violent youth crime
30%
www.abbypd.ca
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