Surrey’s mayor issued a statement regarding ongoing violence Thursday, saying the city is doing everything within its power to help ensure public safety.
Mayor Brenda Locke noted her deep concern about the ongoing extortions and gang-related violence happening throughout the city in the Thursday (Jan. 15) statement, saying that extortions and more recent gang-related violence have impacted far too many in the community for more than a year.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, and residents want to know that these crimes are being addressed quickly and forcefully,” she said in the statement, adding that “the city is doing everything within our authority to help bring an end to this wave of violence.”
Surrey has have increased the policing budget by $100 million since 2021, urgently requested 150 additional officers from the provincial and federal governments, created a $250,000 reward fund for information, upgraded more than 600 traffic cameras and facilitated immediate access for the Surrey Police Service, and established a public safety department to unify city-wide safety efforts, she added.
“Right now, people are scared and looking for answers about how they can feel safe in their communities again. I will be meeting with Solicitor General Nina Krieger to work collaboratively on additional, concrete measures to further support both the SPS and the RCMP,” said Locke, adding their focus will be on identifying meaningful, effective actions that can be implemented quickly to restore public safety.
“Our community will not accept continued acts of violent crime. I am determined to pursue every available option and collaborate with our provincial partners to ensure that residents feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods, and businesses,” Locke said.
“I will continue to push for additional resources, solutions and sustained action until this violence is brought to an end.”
Earlier this week, there were at least two shootings believed to be related to the ongoing extortion crisis, including one Cloverdale home that had been targeted with gunfire once before, as well as two men killed — one who was found by firefighters in a Monday morning (Jan. 12) house fire, and one who was found with fatal gunshot wounds on 176 Street on Tuesday (Jan. 13).
The men have been identified as Nassem Mohammed, 27, who was known to police and also believed to be associated with the B.C. gang conflict, and Baljinder “Binder” Singh Garcha, 46.