Chief Boyd working with community leaders to curb violence
By ANDREW HANON
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Since September, five young Somali men have been shot in separate incidents in the city. Only one survived.
Police have said the carnage is linked to criminal gangs and the drug trade.
Some members of the Somali community have been highly critical of the police, accusing them of not doing enough to bring the killers to justice.
Police officials deny the charge, and have said that even the surviving victim is refusing to co-operate with investigators.
Meanwhile, Boyd is forming a community liaison committee, made up of members from each of the city's 15-plus African communities.
"Police need to have good relations with all immigrant and ethno-cultural communities," he said. "We have to be able to work together to solve these types of crimes."
Boyd acknowledged that some immigrants come from countries where the police cannot be trusted and it's his job to ensure that they understand it's different here.
"Our message to all Canadians is that we're policing for the people," Boyd said.
Source: Edmonton Journal, Dec 30, 2008