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Alberta is creating two police units to address gang suppression and firearms investigations both of which will operate under the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).
The new development was announced by Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister, Mike Ellis on Wednesday. The newly formed units will be funded with $4.4 million, said Ellis.
Mike Ellis said in a statement released on Wednesday that Calgarians “deserve to feel safe in their own community, and we also know that these criminals will stretch this kind of violence beyond those municipal borders.”
“This approach brings together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to combat organized and serious crime. We’re taking action and putting the resources in place to tackle these issues.”
According to the statement, “the gang suppression unit will work to identify and suppress gang and illegal firearm violence, support work being done by the Firearms Investigative Unit, and proactively identify individuals at risk of being victims or perpetrators of gun violence.”
Ellis said both units will work closely with the Calgary Police Service, RCMP, Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta and the firearms lab. The units will provide an all-inclusive tactic to disrupt organized crime, provide intelligence resources and address illegal use of firearms throughout the province.
Supt. Mark Cochlin, Chief Executive officer, ALERT says ALERT has a long standing history of success, and these new dedicated enforcement teams will provide a mix of covert and overt resources towards ensuring a fulsome and complete approach to making our community safe.”
The province said in 2022, there were 126 shootings in Calgary, an increase of 30 percent over the previous year. Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, Commanding Officer Alberta RCMP said “Collaborating with the Calgary Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to confront these challenges head on will help us continue to protect the safety and well-being of Albertans.”
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