Response to south-end shootings about more than policing, chief says

Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleausaysmore police aren't the entire solution for rising gun violence.

At a community safety meeting Thursday night, organized in response to a recent spike in shootings, politicians and residents alike calledfor more police presence in the south end, including a restoration of embedded community police officers, patrol cars and security cameras.

"This is a broader issue than policing. It's a society issue. It's a community issue that we all have to work together in trying to solve from a long-term perspective," Bordeleau said.

The chief said police have increased patrols in response to the recent shootings and added 10 officers to the guns and gangs unit.

"Right now, because of the number of shootings that we've seen in this community, the south end, they fear for their safety. We understand that," he said.

Nearly 300 people attended the meeting, includingcouncillorsDiane Deans, Riley Brockington and Jean Cloutier, Mayor Jim Watson, MP David McGuinty andMPPJohn Fraser, along with police and crime prevention representatives.

Police encouraged residents to come forward with information about suspicious activity and crime. At that point a man interrupted the meeting, saying it was frustrating to hear the same advice aftersolittle progress has seemed to be made withgun violence.

As of the beginning of this month,south-end neighourhoodsincluding Ledbury, Heatherington, South Keys, Greenboro, Heron Gate, Hunt Club and Findlay Creek hadseen 40shootings so far this yearthat's 52per centof the record 76shootings that have occurred acrossthe city.

'Prolific offenders' behind increase, chief says

In July, the increasinggunfireled policeto launch a 10-week investigation called the South SideProject. It resulted in 15 arrests, $90,000 in seized cash, about 100drug charges and 27 firearms charges, according to police.

Bordeleausaid that reduced the number of shootings over the summer, but there has been an increase since September, includinga brazen gang-related homicide in the middle of a busySouth Keys mall parking lot on Black Friday.

Ottawa police chief says south-end violence a 'community issue'

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Chief Charles Bordeleau says a solution for rising gun violence will come from addressing its underlying causes.

He said persistent demand in the illicit drug trade has contributed to that rise.

"We've had a number of individuals who are prolific offenders that have come out of jail that are back at it," Bordeleau said.

"We've also had some court decisions where individuals were acquitted of serious crimes that are back in the community, so we're seeing an uptick in that type of activity taking place."

Shift in community policing

In 2017, all 800 front-line Ottawa police officers working across three departments patrol, neighbourhood and emergency support were brought under one umbrella;in part, policesaid, to deal with staffing issues and budget constraints, and also to respond to issuesmore nimbly.

The number of community officers who run community policing centres and work with volunteers was reduced from 15 to 10, and approximately 40 neighbourhood officers, who aredeployed in the field to work on problems as a team,were folded into the front-line pool.

Policenow say they want to createa community response unitafter a survey found most residents want to see more officers in their neighbourhoods. The still-developing planis contingent on 30 more officers being hired next year.

Bordeleausaid there are still two community police centre officers serving the south end, and that police haven't decided how many officers would go into the new community response unit.

The unit willbe involved in addressing persistent problems, such as crack houses or prostitution, that may require bringing together multiple stakeholders and the councillor, he said.

'I still don't think it's enough,' Deans says

Coun. Diane Deans has been advocating for an increase to the police budget and a return to the previous community policing model.

"I still don't think it's enough. I don't think there's enough resources there," she told CBCNews."We have fantastic community resources officers, but they're spread too thin."

Deans said she'llsupport whatever Bordeleau deemsis necessaryin the police budget to get more resources into the community.

Mayor Jim Watson said he will be meeting with Premier Doug Ford to discuss whether Ontario will fund the fight against gun violence inOttawa, as it recently did in Toronto.

He also said he expects the police budget will increase by 4.5 per cent in the coming budget.