Millions in Budget Cuts to BC's Anti-Gang Units

A poster from the CFSEU End Gang Life campign (Photo Credit: CFSEU)

The B.C. New Democrats are sounding off about more than $4 million in cuts to the major crimes investigators and anti-gang unit in the province.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s (CFSEU) will see its budget slashed by $2.8 million while major crimes, which handles murders and missing persons cases is being slashed by $1.4 million.

“These reckless B.C. Liberal cuts will hinder law enforcement in their efforts to crack down on motorcycle gangs and other criminal gangs and leave more murders and missing persons cases unsolved,” said New Democrat public safety spokesperson Mike Farnworth. “The Liberal government claims to be concerned about gang violence and missing persons, but the truth is they are trying to walk away from both issues by removing funding.”

(Photo Credit: CFSEU)

The CFSEU will see the elimination of Team 6, a specialized unit that is in charge of gathering intelligence and investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs. In the past this unit has been responsible for the arrest and charges of many Hells Angels’ members including in Kelowna.

Some of them include:

• E-PIXIE: Kelowna Hells Angels’ Robert Thomas and Norman Cocks have been charged with second-degree murder following the successful conclusion of an investigation by CFSEU-BC into the murder of Kelowna father Dain Phillips.
• E-PREDICATE: Kelowna Hells Angels David Giles and Bryan Oldham and three associates face drug conspiracy charges in association with a criminal organization.
• E-PULPIT: Extortion file allegedly “committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization,” namely the Nanaimo Hells Angels chapter. Frederick Widdifield, a high-ranking HA member of the Nanaimo chapter is one of four men charged with extortion. Three other associates are also charged.
• Founding Kelowna Hells Angel member Joseph Skreptak is facing aggravated assault, uttering threats and break and enter with intent to commit an offence. Skreptak is also charged with firearms offences after he and four others were pulled over for speeding in Salmon Arm. A number of firearms were found inside the car at the time.

Calls to the BC Government, BC RCMP and the RCMP Lower Mainland District were not returned in time for publishing of this story.