Hamilton police disband task force aimed at dealing with shootings

Police seized 13 guns before the project closed in April

A Hamilton police task force created to tackle a rise in shootings earlier this year was quietly disbanded in April.

However, police said it could be restarted should the need arise.

“We are very live to the issue of shootings,” said Supt. Ryan Diodati, who oversees investigative services.

“We would certainly look at potentially (bringing) the task force together again.”

Hamilton police are investigating four shootings in the city in the last week, including three in about 12 hours Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Make Safe task force was announced in February amid a spike in shootings. It was led by the gang and weapons enforcement unit, drawing teams from across the city. The officers involved split their time between their regular jobs and the task force.

They did not investigate all shootings, but looked at those connected with drugs and other criminal activity.

There have been 37 shootings in Hamilton so far this year. February saw the most shootings of any month, with nine.

August had the fewest shootings, with one. That lull in gun crime broke Sept. 19 when a 25-year-old man was targeted in a Reid Avenue North home.

In the three shootings since, police said there is no evidence they are connected and no one was hurt.

There have been 37 shootings in Hamilton so far this year. February saw the most shootings of any month, with nine.

In one case a man was arrested and a gun seized.

It was a particular shooting on Jan. 14, when people in two cars shot at each other on Brunswick Street at Melvin Avenue that spurred the creation of the task force, former Deputy Chief Dan Kinsella told The Spectator earlier this year.

While no one was hurt the “reckless” nature of the shooting — firing back and forth in the middle of the afternoon near a school, homes and businesses — that was especially concerning.

This week Diodati said the police service made the decision to close the task force at the end of April after examining statistics and determining that shootings had gone down. There were three shootings in April.

During the three months it was in operation, the task force seized 13 guns and 125 rounds of ammunition. They made 52 arrests and laid 233 charges.

They executed 23 drug warrants, seizing more than $1.5 million in cocaine, meth, fentanyl, heroin, cannabis and other pills, along with just over $26,000 in cash.

Diodati said the task force dealt with the same barrier that plagues many police investigations — unco-operative victims and witnesses.

He said the cases also mirrored what police already knew: Illegal drugs are central to most shootings.

Hamilton police are also keenly aware of rise in shooting in Toronto and surrounding areas and it’s not uncommon to have victims or accused come from out of town.

“We are continually meeting with neighbouring police and law enforcement,” Diodati said, adding they look for similarities in method or suspect description. “We’re not working in isolation.”

The 37 shootings so far this year is an increase from the 25 shootings in 2018, but still below the high of 41 shootings in 2017.

Of the shootings in Hamilton this year, the majority (21) did not result in injuries. Four were homicides and 12 caused injuries.

During the three months it was in operation, the task force seized 13 guns and 125 rounds of ammunition. They made 52 arrests and laid 233 charges.