In a surprising development, Ward 5 councillor Raj Dhaliwal, who was poised to minister the police commission for an additional year, announced his withdrawal on Tuesday. Dhaliwal stated that due to shifting circumstances, he believed his tenure on the commission was at its natural conclusion.
“There has been an evolution in the dynamics of social disorders, not just in my ward but across the city,” elaborated Dhaliwal on his decision to yield his advocacy to another representative.
Dhaliwal’s tenure is set to conclude on October 31, with the council expected to announce his successor in the coming month. Dhaliwal will also be present at his final, or possibly penultimate, commission gathering on Wednesday. In this meeting, he has prepared inquiries for Police Chief Mark Neufeld regarding the horrifying daytime shooting incident that took place last week, leaving an officer wounded.
Expressing his concern, Dhaliwal said, “The incident was shocking, brazen, and unsettling; it’s not something we can accept.”
Dhaliwal’s concern revolved around the choice of police to carry out a “high-risk” arrest on a Falconridge strip mall, leading to a mid-day face-off between two suspects and the tactical unit. Following the incident, he reported having a candid conversation with the CPS chief and the ELT where his questions about the event were addressed.
In the aftermath, the police victim services paid visits to the residents and businesses of the area, explaining the reasons for the occurrence, thereby easing their anxiety.
Frequently consulted criminologist from Mount Royal University, Kelly Sundberg, assured that police were heavily trained for such operations, considering every possible scenario during planning. “Considering the suspects’ prior involvement in violent firearm usage, the police were left with no option,” Sundberg emphasized.
A suspect killed during the operation was identified as Thanh Nguyen, 25, of Calgary. He was arrested on charges including attempted murder, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and possession of a weapon obtained through crime among others. He is set to appear in court on Friday.
This arrest was linked to a shooting that occurred late in September when a driver reported a shooting between two vehicles. As meetings are ongoing with the Calgary Police Commission, it has been reported a decrease in the number of shootings, a drop of 28 percent in comparison to last year. Further, during the first half of 2023, the police successfully confiscated over 200 crime guns.
