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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 11, 2001Pickering Advisory Committee On Race Relations & Equity Notes Tuesday, December 11, 2001 7:10 p.m. Chair: Councillor Ryan Present: Dave Ryan — Chair Matthew Carmichael, Community Appointee Kisho Umar, Community Appointee Ian Weber, Community Appointee Joe Mitschang, Durham Regional Police Prem Noronha - Waldriff, City of Pickering Debbie Kearns, City of Pickering Guest: Doris Beers, St. Wilfreds Catholic School Regrets: Luigia Ayotte, Durham District School Board 1. Presentations a. Joe Mitschang provided the Committee with the following 2001 Street Gang Update for the Ajax /Pickering Area: • the definition for `Street Gang' - two or more individuals engaged in delinquent and /or criminal activities • may claim geographic area and /or economic or criminal enterprise • `gang' may denote a particular allegiance • gang members • middle school aged or older — Grade 7 up • any ethnic or societal background • poor self - esteem, have experienced little adult guidance and participation in their lives, lack of sense of social responsibility • may join a gang for excitement, attention, protection, recognition, financial profit, peer pressure or family tradition or a combination of these factors • wearing one primary color, such as red or blue, to identifiable • now wear sports team clothing • 14 to 24 years of age • older members — position of leadership • violent and intimating manner • `all gangs have a leader' What can schools do? • talk to students — they are aware of gangs in schools and who are members, they usually know criminal activity Local Gang Problems • King Pins — 10 -12 members, operating in malls and schools • Ajax Chaos — AK's - 18 -20 members — Westney Heights Area, schools, plazas Project — Eradicate • 12 Member Task Force • Resulted in 51 Arrests and 151 charges • 30% reduction in violence Pickering Advisory Committee On Race Relations & Equity Notes Police — What they are doing • Resurrection of the Street Crime Unit • Commitment to Community Response Units • Expansion of the School Units • Expansion of Drug Enforcement Unit • Continue to be supportive • Attempting to set up neighbourhood police offices • Oshawa first • Ajax next Tuesday, December 11, 2001 7:10 p.m. Chair: Councillor Rvan b. Doris Beers, Grade 6 Teacher at St. Wilfreds Catholic School made a presentation to the Committee Members of a program entitled `Turn To Respect'. She provided a brief outline of the purpose of Ihe program: • three areas to be dealt with — students, teachers and parents • January 14 — teacher training • February 19 — youth fair — Grades 5 -8 — Crime Stoppers, Crime Unit will be in attendance, students groups will be making a presentation on anti- violence —'Gang For Peace' • Parent Information Night will be held on February 28th, 2002 Councillor Ryan will approach Council for approval for the February 28th, 2002 event to be held in the Council Chambers — advertising will be included on the Community Page. 2. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on January 9, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Committee Room. A schedule for the 2002 Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity is attached. 3. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.