Laval police say strategy has reduced gun violence on the island
Political candidates at all levels say fighting gun violence is a major priority in the provincial election campaign.
Provincial party pledges are coming after a string of recent shootings in the Montreal area, many of them in public spaces.
Laval, north of the Riviere des Prairies from Montreal, says it is making progress.
Recently, a 42-year-old man was shot inside a restaurant and a month prior to that, a drive-by shooting on Cure-Labelle Blvd. killed two people and seriously injured a 14-year-old boy.
Despite those shootings, Laval's police (SPL) Chief Pierre Brochet said their work is paying off. He said shootings are down by half, with 13 shootings reported so far this year compared to 27 in 2021.
"This is a big change, and we are very proud of all the mobilization," said Brochet.
The SPL launched the Paradox 2022 project, which is a coordinated approach to urban violence on the island.
"The concerted and proactive approach we have taken this year has certainly contributed to the positive impacts we are seeing on the ground," said Brochet. "This is not an end in itself, as the phenomenon is volatile, and our work continues. However, it is a source of pride for our service to see that our mobilization is bearing fruit."
Brochet said better tracking and surveillance of repeat offenders have helped reduce gun crimes.
"What we did was identify the violent criminals and really put pressure on them," he said. "Those kinds of guys are doing frauds, they are doing thefts, sometimes gambling, for example, and drugs.
He said firearm-related arrests have increased slightly in Laval with 29 this year compared to 27 by this time in 2021.
While the number of shootings in Laval has gone down, officers have seized more guns with most of them coming from the U.S.
Police services across Quebec want more resources at the border to stop guns from getting into the province.
While Laval appears to be making progress, some criminologists say it's still to early to know if the decline will last.
"Any reduction of shootings or death is encouraging, but over a short period like six of seven months, it doesn't establish a trend," said criminologist Irwin Waller from the University of Ottawa. "You need to see a plan where police are part of the plan, street outreach workers, programs in schools to stop people from reacting in anger."
Laval police say prevention and youth programs are part of the plan and hope their short-term gains to curb gun violence will lead to long-term results.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.