Canada - Police going door-to-door in biker war

OFF THE WIRE
Winnipeg police are taking the unusual step of sending officers door-to-door to warn residents about what it calls “the potential for violence” surrounding bikers who might happen to live in the neighbourhood.
Street -level enforcers of the Rock Machine and the Hells Angels in Winnipeg are suspected in more than a dozen firebombings and shootings over the past month as the rival biker gangs battle over turf.
As early as Friday, uniformed officers were to start dropping by homes throughout the city close to where gang members or their associates reside. Winnipeggers may also notice more cruiser cars patrolling in these areas, too, police said.
The goal is creating a “heightened awareness” of the conflict, police said, without sounding alarm bells.
“We don’t want to create panic. We don’t want to create undue stress on individuals. We want to empower them,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen, a city police spokesman.
The information might make some people “uncomfortable,” Michalyshen said, but police are hoping to arm residents with information.
“Sometim es the ugly truth is difficult,” he said.
Police wouldn’t say where officers would be visiting, but stressed the neighbourhoods are quite literally all over the map. In talking to residents, Michalyshen said officers won’t be pointing out exact addresses or naming gangs.
In general, Winnipeg police publicly avoid using the names of gangs because the department feels it gives the groups undue notoriety.
As police announced the initiative Friday, Michalyshen reiterated earlier comments that the vast majority of the violence has been targeted at homes or businesses with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs. In one case, however, an innocent 14-year-old boy was shot inside a Fort Rouge home. He survived.