MP Bob Zimmer has started an online petition to address the recent crime wave plaguing the Peace Region, teaming up with Dawson Creek resident Kaylee Lindeberg.
In a December Twitter video with Zimmer, Lindeberg explained she works at one the local schools and says she heard gunshots just two blocks away,
"We felt immediately threatened, and we were all under the impression that if you stay away from the drug situation, you wouldn't be threatened, but we're seeing that it's starting to threaten citizens," she said.
The Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP says the rise in crime can be attributed to the decriminalization of hard drugs, and their petition to the Government of Canada is calling for the repeal of soft-on-crime and catch-and-release policies, ending the decriminalization of hard drugs, stopping tax-funded handouts of hard drugs, and investing money into treatment and recovery.
"Really around the decriminalization of hard drugs, we've seen all this added crime come to our local communities," said Zimmer in the video.
"We just challenge you to sign and have your voices heard, because a lot of neighbours are wondering what can we do to really make a difference - the idea of this is to get the attention of the prime minister and the current government," he added, noting violent crime isn't limited to urban centres.
The petition is open for signatures until Mar.19, 2024 and you can find it here. The petition currently has 462 signatures.
In a Dec. 21 press release, the North District RCMP said targeted enforcement has been successful in curbing violent crime in Dawson Creek, after receiving assistance from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit from Prince George, the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team from the Lower Mainland, and the North District Emergency response team, deployed in late November.
"Since the onset of the proactive measures, there has been a significant decrease in violence among the groups responsible and no substantiated reports of shots fired or gun related violence in and around Dawson Creek," noted the release.
Dawson Creek RCMP will continue conducting dedicated proactive enhanced enforcement initiatives, focusing our efforts on apprehending those responsible for the these violent and often public offences,
added Insp. Steve McLeod, North District RCMP’s Operations Officer, in the same release.
