Latest news with #DevinLaforce
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Edmonton police investigating new reports of extortion targeting South Asian community
Edmonton police are looking into a new round of threats and extortion attempts against members of the city's South Asian community. Six incidents, including at least one arson, have been reported since early June, according to interim Edmonton police Chief Devin Laforce. It comes nearly a year after arrests in the "Project Gaslight" investigation put an end to months of fear over threats, followed by arsons and shootings, targeting South Asian home builders in the Edmonton area. Laforce said Thursday that the latest incidents seem to be separate from the Project Gaslight crimes, but there's "some association and some linkages." He added that the pattern of extortions is similar, with calls or messages — sometimes over the platform WhatsApp — demanding money. While the investigation is still underway, police believe the recent extortions are linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The criminal organization based in India has been in the news recently, with B.C. Premier David Eby and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown calling on the federal government to designate the group a terrorist organization. Alberta's premier and public safety minister issued their own statement in support of the move on Monday. Laforce said it's something Edmonton Police Service would also like to see. "These crimes go across the country," he said. "And certainly in Alberta, as we're impacted as well, looking at the potential different powers and authorities or investigative techniques that could afford … is certainly something that we're in support of." Kash Heed, a former West Vancouver police chief and B.C. solicitor-general, said he sees the idea as a "political move" that's unlikely to help. He said police agencies like EPS, which have made arrests in extortion investigations, are getting results from investigations on the ground. He puts more importance on establishing trust and communication with the local community. "When I look at that, I see no value at this point of announcing Lawrence Bishnoi, giving him an automatic rise in notoriety by labelling him a terrorist organization." The Bishnoi gang's founder and namesake has been in jail in India for the last decade. Heed said it's also possible that extortion suspects in Canada are using the infamy of the Bishnoi name without a meaningful link to the organization. "That's kind of the added part of instilling that fear when you're going after, extorting, South Asian people that have been successful in businesses." The Bishnoi gang hasn't been publicly mentioned in relation to the Project Gaslight investigation. When one of the young men arrested in that case pleaded guilty this year, court documents indicated some of the alleged players in the extortion scheme were linked to B.C.-based gang Brothers Keepers. Laforce said EPS is bringing in resources from Calgary police and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) for the new extortion investigation. Community liaison constables are also working to connect with people and encourage them to report any concerns. "Obviously, when you're dealing with an extortion, they're preying on that fear of violence," he said. "When you have somebody that's scared, and they're seeing violence that's actually occurring, how can you blame them for being scared? So what we just have to say is ... help give us some of that information so that we can follow up investigatively to build in that public safety that's needed by actually holding these people accountable." EPS is holding a town hall at the Southwood Community Hall on July 28 to give an update on the investigation and address community concerns. WATCH | New reports of extortion targeting Edmonton's South Asian community:
CBC
18-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Edmonton police investigating new reports of extortion targeting South Asian community
Social Sharing Edmonton police are looking into a new round of threats and extortion attempts against members of the city's South Asian community. Six incidents, including at least one arson, have been reported since early June, according to interim Edmonton police Chief Devin Laforce. It comes nearly a year after arrests in the "Project Gaslight" investigation put an end to months of fear over threats, followed by arsons and shootings, targeting South Asian home builders in the Edmonton area. Laforce said Thursday that the latest incidents seem to be separate from the Project Gaslight crimes, but there's "some association and some linkages." He added that the pattern of extortions is similar, with calls or messages — sometimes over the platform WhatsApp — demanding money. While the investigation is still underway, police believe the recent extortions are linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The criminal organization based in India has been in the news recently, with B.C. Premier David Eby and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown calling on the federal government to designate the group a terrorist organization. Alberta's premier and public safety minister issued their own statement in support of the move on Monday. Laforce said it's something Edmonton Police Service would also like to see. "These crimes go across the country," he said. "And certainly in Alberta, as we're impacted as well, looking at the potential different powers and authorities or investigative techniques that could afford … is certainly something that we're in support of." Kash Heed, a former West Vancouver police chief and B.C. solicitor-general, said he sees the idea as a "political move" that's unlikely to help. He said police agencies like EPS, which have made arrests in extortion investigations, are getting results from investigations on the ground. He puts more importance on establishing trust and communication with the local community. "When I look at that, I see no value at this point of announcing Lawrence Bishnoi, giving him an automatic rise in notoriety by labelling him a terrorist organization." The Bishnoi gang's founder and namesake has been in jail in India for the last decade. Heed said it's also possible that extortion suspects in Canada are using the infamy of the Bishnoi name without a meaningful link to the organization. "That's kind of the added part of instilling that fear when you're going after, extorting, South Asian people that have been successful in businesses." The Bishnoi gang hasn't been publicly mentioned in relation to the Project Gaslight investigation. When one of the young men arrested in that case pleaded guilty this year, court documents indicated some of the alleged players in the extortion scheme were linked to B.C.-based gang Brothers Keepers. Laforce said EPS is bringing in resources from Calgary police and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) for the new extortion investigation. Community liaison constables are also working to connect with people and encourage them to report any concerns. "Obviously, when you're dealing with an extortion, they're preying on that fear of violence," he said. "When you have somebody that's scared, and they're seeing violence that's actually occurring, how can you blame them for being scared? So what we just have to say is ... help give us some of that information so that we can follow up investigatively to build in that public safety that's needed by actually holding these people accountable." EPS is holding a town hall at the Southwood Community Hall on July 28 to give an update on the investigation and address community concerns.
CBC
18-07-2025
- CBC
New reports of extortion targeting Edmonton's South Asian community
Interim Edmonton police Chief Devin Laforce says police are investigating a new round of extortion threats against the city's South Asian community, and they believe there are links to organized crime.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Edmonton councillor calls on minister to reverse photo radar cuts after 20th traffic fatality of 2025
Twenty people have been killed on Edmonton roads so far this year, prompting alarm from a city councillor who blames the increase in part on the scaling back of photo radar. Edmonton police on Thursday announced a motorcyclist was killed earlier this week by colliding with a concrete barrier in a south Edmonton industrial park near Highway 2 and Highway 19. The 40-year-old's death brings Edmonton to 20 traffic fatalities for 2025, approaching the total deaths in all of 2023 (27) and 2024 (26). 'The unfortunate reality is that 20 individuals have died on our streets this year alone,' Interim Chief Devin Laforce said in a news release. 'These are our friends, our family, our coworkers.' The grim milestone comes less than one year after provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen reduced the number of photo radar speed enforcement locations by 70 per cent. The announcement — made at an Edmonton barbecue restaurant, where an aproned Dreeshen decried the tool as a 'cash cow' — prompted concerns from Edmonton city councillors and Calgary's police chief, who accused the minister of being 'unprofessional' and making light of road fatalities. On Thursday, Edmonton Coun. Ashley Salvador said the changes — which banned city-operated photo radar in all but school, playground and construction zones — effectively eliminated photo radar as a speed enforcement tool. The City of Edmonton ended photo radar enforcement in school zones effective July 1, citing the cost, which was subsidized by revenue from photo radar on roads where it is now banned. 'Given what we've been seeing on our streets, given the surge in fatalities, I do think the province needs to reconsider their approach,' Salvador said. '(Photo radar) is a known tool that is backed up by data and evidence to help support traffic safety as part of a larger suite of tools. As a growing city, we need all the tools we can get to support safety in our neighbourhoods.' Edmonton police were not able to provide statistics Thursday on how often speed was a factor in this year's traffic fatalities. In May, police said speed was a factor in nearly half, including three people killed on Edmonton roads in a single weekend. Laforce said Thursday that police are focusing 'significant resources' on traffic safety, including education campaigns 'to remind Edmontonians that speeding on our roadways is not without immense risk and potentially tragic outcomes.' The service has not taken a position on the elimination of photo radar but has called for the power to seize vehicles clocked going 50 km/h above the speed limit. 'Regardless of the province's automated enforcement guidelines or the city's decision to scale back the tool, the EPS will continue in its ongoing traffic safety efforts using more traditional direct policing measures,' EPS spokesperson Brooke Timpson said in a news release. 'We will also work collaboratively with our numerous traffic safety partners to maintain and prioritize the safety of the public using its existing response and specialized traffic resources to ensure that those individuals choosing to engage in dangerous or other unlawful behaviours are held accountable.' Timpson added, 'The public should not interpret the scaling back of (photo radar) as implicit approval to engage in high-risk or other unlawful driving behaviours.' Salvador said she hears from constituents increasingly 'alarmed' by behaviours they're seeing from drivers. While the city has other tools to limit dangerous driving — including education campaigns and infrastructure improvements — limiting enforcement 'makes the rest of the strategy hard to deliver on,' she said. 'So it's a significant loss.' Dreeshen's office did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Edmonton has signed on to the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2032. jwakefield@ @ Related 'Absolutely concerned': Edmonton mayor, councillors react to Alberta photo radar plan Edmonton police chief pleads with drivers to slow down after three fatal weekend crashes City of Edmonton ends school photo radar, citing costs and issues beyond speeding You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Calgary Herald
17-07-2025
- Calgary Herald
Edmonton councillor calls on minister to reverse photo radar cuts after 20th traffic fatality of 2025
Twenty people have been killed on Edmonton roads so far this year, prompting alarm from a city councillor who blames the increase in part on the scaling back of photo radar. Article content Edmonton police on Thursday announced a motorcyclist was killed earlier this week by colliding with a concrete barrier in a south Edmonton industrial park near Highway 2 and Highway 19. The 40-year-old's death brings Edmonton to 20 traffic fatalities for 2025, approaching the total deaths in all of 2023 (27) and 2024 (26). Article content Article content Article content 'The unfortunate reality is that 20 individuals have died on our streets this year alone,' Interim Chief Devin Laforce said in a news release. 'These are our friends, our family, our coworkers.' Article content Article content The grim milestone comes less than one year after provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen reduced the number of photo radar speed enforcement locations by 70 per cent. The announcement — made at an Edmonton barbecue restaurant, where an aproned Dreeshen decried the tool as a 'cash cow' — prompted concerns from Edmonton city councillors and Calgary's police chief, who accused the minister of being 'unprofessional' and making light of road fatalities. On Thursday, Edmonton Coun. Ashley Salvador said the changes — which banned city-operated photo radar in all but school, playground and construction zones — effectively eliminated photo radar as a speed enforcement tool. The City of Edmonton ended photo radar enforcement in school zones effective July 1, citing the cost, which was subsidized by revenue from photo radar on roads where it is now banned. Article content Article content 'Given what we've been seeing on our streets, given the surge in fatalities, I do think the province needs to reconsider their approach,' Salvador said. '(Photo radar) is a known tool that is backed up by data and evidence to help support traffic safety as part of a larger suite of tools. As a growing city, we need all the tools we can get to support safety in our neighbourhoods.' Article content Edmonton police were not able to provide statistics Thursday on how often speed was a factor in this year's traffic fatalities. In May, police said speed was a factor in nearly half, including three people killed on Edmonton roads in a single weekend. Article content Laforce said Thursday that police are focusing 'significant resources' on traffic safety, including education campaigns 'to remind Edmontonians that speeding on our roadways is not without immense risk and potentially tragic outcomes.'
