Police task force created to investigate unsolved gang murders

Posted Dec 15, 2016 05:37:32 PM.

Last Updated Dec 16, 2016 04:42:57 AM.

This article is more than 5 years old.

OTTAWA – Ottawa police is assembling a new special task force to investigate all unsolved gang-related murders, with a focus on homicides that may be linked.

The task force will draw personnel from the Major Crimes Unit, the Guns and Gangs Unit and Street Crime Unit.

Investigators believe some of the same individuals are involved in multiple gang related murders across the city.

“Certainly it’s not uncommon to see a player that’s involved, either peripherally, or directly with another incident,” said Supt. Don Sweet in an interview with 1310 NEWS on Thursday.

“A large portion of our homicides thus far there is some gang influence, if not directly gang related.”

There have been 22 murders in Ottawa in 2016.

Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau has said that number is abnormally high but he does not believe it represents a new trend.

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