SALMON ARM, B.C. - Massive motorcycle rally in Salmon Arm expected to be trouble-free

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http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Massive+motorcycle+rally+Salmon+expected+trouble+free/5104191/story.htmlMassive motorcycle rally in Salmon Arm expected to be trouble-free
 By KIM BOLAN, Vancouver Sun July 14, 2011 
SALMON ARM, B.C. -- Thousands of bikers have descended on Salmon Arm for the first Sturgis North rally for motorcycle enthusiasts.
And while members of the notorious Hells Angels are among them, neither police nor civic officials are expecting any trouble.
Sgt. Shinder Kirk, of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, said both the Uniformed Gang Task Force and the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Unit, are in Salmon Arm for the event, helping local RCMP with enforcement and gathering their own intelligence.
“We are not expecting anything untoward to occur,” Kirk said.
He said most of the thousands expected to attend over four days are simply those who enjoy motorcycles.
But also expected are Hells Angels members from both B.C. and Alberta chapters, Kirk said.
The original Sturgis motorcycle rally occurs annually in South Dakota with upwards of half a million in attendance.
There have been shootings at the American event involving Hells Angels. In 2008, a off-duty police officer was charged with fatally shooting an Angel, though the charge was later dropped. In 2006, two Canadian Hells Angels were charged in a non-fatal shooting, but were later acquitted.
Salmon Arm Mayor Marty Bootsma said some in town were concerned about the event, but many other residents are embracing it.
“There has been a fairly mixed reaction. Some people are looking forward to it and think it is exciting and there are those, of course, who are fairly apprehensive about it,” said Bootsma, who presided over the opening Wednesday.
“I don’t think there is too much concern about the outlaw motorcycle gangs. I think they are smart enough to keep their noses clean when they are on the road. It is the want-to-bes who concern me.”
There are demonstration rides, items for sale and lots of bands and music, both at the Salmon Arm fairgrounds and on the local first nations property.
Bootsma said the organizers have put up $40,000 to cover the extra policing costs for the four-day event.
A RCMP estimate of $82,000 for policing was presented to council earlier this month.
“It could even be higher than that ... we would have to pick up the rest,” Bootsma said. “On the other hand, it does bring a lot of money into town. The restaurants, the hotels, the gas stations — they are all very busy.”