By Megan Eichhorn
On November 10, 2009, Calgary Herald's, Daryl Slade, reported Justice Allen Sulatycky's guilty verdict for drug-dealer Travis Brunet. Sulatycky said that gang members must be a sent a message to stop their use of guns. Brunet claimed that he was too intoxicated to form the intent to kill and was only trying to scare his victim when the gun accidentally went off.
Brunet got a life sentence for second-degree murder. Sulatycky says this will send a message that carrying a gun and killing someone, whether it is an accident or not, will result in jail time.
Facts in this article were based on quotes from the judge and the shooting victim's mother, as well as dates, locations and what was probably said at the court hearing. This article is biased in that it only includes quotes from people who view Brunet as guilty. When Slade reports Brunet's story, it is followed by the judge's conclusion that it is false. The questions of who, what, where, when and why are all thoroughly answered in this article.
Slade's article is more evidence of journalistic support of crime-fighting. Again, this makes sense because the readers of the Calgary Herald are citizens in this city and are likely interested in safety.
Slade, D. (2009, November 10). Drug dealer found guilty in C-train station murder. Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 12, 2009, from http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Drug+dealer+found+guilty+train+station+murder/2205268/story.html
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Overworked and Understaffed: Too Many Organized Crime Cases leave RCMP Feeling Overwhelmed
By James Wilt
On November 2nd, 2009, the Calgary Herald released an article titled “Alberta RCMP strained by organized crime focus”. Authored by Jason Van Rassel, the extensive report summarized a recently obtained annual evaluation from the RCMP which indicated that the Alberta police force are becoming swamped by the amount of time and effort required to secure evidence from a crime due to an overload of cases combined with a overall understaffing.
Within the article, Van Rassel utilized numerous quotes from Chief Superintendent Dan Killam, an unnamed RCMP evaluator, and Athabasca assistant professor Carolyn Greene. In addition, Van Rassel presented statistics, which included the number of investigative referrals directed to Calgary since 2005, the monetary value of seized assets (including homes and vehicles), as well as the breakdown of RCMP members within the province. Due to the implementation of both quotes and statistics, one may conclude that Van Rassel successfully demonstrated the current situation in provincial law enforcement.
I believe that Van Rassel presented the information in an admiringly objective, fact-based manner, with very few problems. He clearly stated the reasoning behind the personnel deficit, and gave a complete comprehensive report. The only problem I had with the article was that because of the fact Van Rassel was covering such an extensive analysis his writing, at times, felt slightly disjointed. However, with such an amount of information, such a situation is understandable.
On a whole, Jason Van Rassel did an excellent job of reporting on the situation. He presented the facts in a news-like manner, and allowed the reader to gain a good understanding of the events.
Van Rassel, J. (2009, November 2). Alberta RCMP strained by organized crime focus [Electronic version]. Calgary Herald.
On November 2nd, 2009, the Calgary Herald released an article titled “Alberta RCMP strained by organized crime focus”. Authored by Jason Van Rassel, the extensive report summarized a recently obtained annual evaluation from the RCMP which indicated that the Alberta police force are becoming swamped by the amount of time and effort required to secure evidence from a crime due to an overload of cases combined with a overall understaffing.
Within the article, Van Rassel utilized numerous quotes from Chief Superintendent Dan Killam, an unnamed RCMP evaluator, and Athabasca assistant professor Carolyn Greene. In addition, Van Rassel presented statistics, which included the number of investigative referrals directed to Calgary since 2005, the monetary value of seized assets (including homes and vehicles), as well as the breakdown of RCMP members within the province. Due to the implementation of both quotes and statistics, one may conclude that Van Rassel successfully demonstrated the current situation in provincial law enforcement.
I believe that Van Rassel presented the information in an admiringly objective, fact-based manner, with very few problems. He clearly stated the reasoning behind the personnel deficit, and gave a complete comprehensive report. The only problem I had with the article was that because of the fact Van Rassel was covering such an extensive analysis his writing, at times, felt slightly disjointed. However, with such an amount of information, such a situation is understandable.
On a whole, Jason Van Rassel did an excellent job of reporting on the situation. He presented the facts in a news-like manner, and allowed the reader to gain a good understanding of the events.
Van Rassel, J. (2009, November 2). Alberta RCMP strained by organized crime focus [Electronic version]. Calgary Herald.
Gang Warfare Hits Hard
By Nicolle Amyotte
The story I selected this week, Gang warfare claims 50 lives, authored by Nadia Moharib of the Calgary Sun, speaks to the report last week on Calgary having the highest per capita gang violence rates in the country (see James’ blog entry last week). It is clearly an older version of this report, but I feel that it is still relevant, or even more relevant now than at the time of publishing.
Statistics are listed in the article, specifically the number of casualties, as result of gang activity as well as the number of non-fatal crimes committed between January 1, 2005 and September 9, 2009. In the article, police chief, Rick Hanson, describes the statistics as “Frightening”. The report released last week re-affirms this idea. I feel that having Rick Hanson speak to the press on this issue confirms that this is a definite problem, and one that the police would like to see change.
Sentences later state that the situation may worsen before improving- quoting deputy chief Murray Stooke. He also states that Calgary police do not believe that they have a solution for gang violence just yet, but have had an impact on calming it thus far. This, in addition to Hanson’s comments, is the opinion of the Calgary Police Service.
Countering this opinion, on the online version of the article, an anonymous comment was posted under the name, “Buddy”. He claims that there is too much of a public scare surrounding gang violence when it is simply a regular occurrence in any metropolitan city, as an attempt to get more funding from the province. There is quite clearly a contrast between the opinions of the writer of this article and the public, or “Buddy” at the very least. With the newest report, public opinion will likely only continue to grow in favor of Buddy.
Moharib, N. (September 17, 2009) Gang warfare claims 50 lives. The Calgary Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2009 from http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/09/17/10951246-sun.html
The story I selected this week, Gang warfare claims 50 lives, authored by Nadia Moharib of the Calgary Sun, speaks to the report last week on Calgary having the highest per capita gang violence rates in the country (see James’ blog entry last week). It is clearly an older version of this report, but I feel that it is still relevant, or even more relevant now than at the time of publishing.
Statistics are listed in the article, specifically the number of casualties, as result of gang activity as well as the number of non-fatal crimes committed between January 1, 2005 and September 9, 2009. In the article, police chief, Rick Hanson, describes the statistics as “Frightening”. The report released last week re-affirms this idea. I feel that having Rick Hanson speak to the press on this issue confirms that this is a definite problem, and one that the police would like to see change.
Sentences later state that the situation may worsen before improving- quoting deputy chief Murray Stooke. He also states that Calgary police do not believe that they have a solution for gang violence just yet, but have had an impact on calming it thus far. This, in addition to Hanson’s comments, is the opinion of the Calgary Police Service.
Countering this opinion, on the online version of the article, an anonymous comment was posted under the name, “Buddy”. He claims that there is too much of a public scare surrounding gang violence when it is simply a regular occurrence in any metropolitan city, as an attempt to get more funding from the province. There is quite clearly a contrast between the opinions of the writer of this article and the public, or “Buddy” at the very least. With the newest report, public opinion will likely only continue to grow in favor of Buddy.
Moharib, N. (September 17, 2009) Gang warfare claims 50 lives. The Calgary Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2009 from http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/09/17/10951246-sun.html
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