Seventeen months after the bloody gang slaying in Kelowna of mobster Jonathan Bacon, police say their investigation is "going well."
The lead investigator on the case, RCMP Insp. Dwayne McDonald, told the local CrimeStoppers association that police are making substantial progress.
However, he refused to say whether any arrests are imminent.
Going well? Really?
If by that McDonald meant he's letting the Lower Mainland's rival gangs clean up their own mess, he may be on to something.
But simply letting bloodthirsty organized crime groups shoot it out on the streets until all the gangsters are dead isn't the answer. Sooner or later, innocent bystanders are going to get caught in the crossfire.
And the drug trade abhors a vacuum, so as soon as one gang is put out of business, some other ne'er-do-well will step into its place with his own crew of dealers and thugs.
The Bacon killing shocked Kelowna and opened residents' eyes to the gang activity in our community.
Since then, gangs have continued to operate openly in Kelowna, but - thankfully - we have avoided the escalating bloodshed seen at the Coast.
If the cops aren't saying anything, all one needs to do is follow the trail of bullets. The assassinations and attempted killings that followed have focused on the Dhak-Duhre gang.
In total, 15 gangsters have been killed since the Bacon shooting.
If police don't act fast, they won't have anyone left to charge.
- Managing Editor
Jon Manchester