More Vancouver police officers to patrol on Downtown Eastside

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says more police officers will temporarily be patrolling the Downtown Eastside, following multiple shootings in the area.

Police say the most recent shooting happened Thursday morning when a 24-year-old man was shot while riding his bike near East Hastings Street and Carrall Street around 5 a.m.

The man made it back to his home before calling 911, police say, and officers were later called to a single-room occupancy hotel (SRO) by the BC Ambulance Service.

#VPDNews Vancouver Police are temporarily increasing the number of officers in the Downtown Eastside, following nearly a week of gun violence that injured two men and left people in surrounding neighourhoods shaken.

Media Release: https://t.co/sSdsinMQ0l pic.twitter.com/BOBqCGz22h

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) February 23, 2023

Police say the extra officers will help with extra patrols on “East Hastings Street, in Chinatown, and throughout Gastown to deter crime and respond to in-progress violence.”

This comes just a few days after Sunday’s shooting when another man was shot multiple times near East Hastings Street and Main Street, in what police say was a “targeted attack that originated near the encampment on East Hastings Street.”

“Residents of the Downtown Eastside already face so many hardships, and they shouldn’t have to worry that someone with a gun, a machete, or bear spray is going to make their lives more difficult,” Sgt. Steve Addison said in a news release.

“Our only goal by adding more officers is to restore a sense of safety in the community and to target the law-breakers who are putting people at risk.”

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Police add that in the span of four days, officers have seized 14 real and replica guns from the area, and arrested multiple people.

“The number of guns currently in the Downtown Eastside is alarming, and we’re worried for the safety of people who live and work in the area,” Addison said.

“Besides putting extra officers on the street, our organized crime experts and major crime investigators are working to determine why we’re seeing such an increase in guns in the area.”

The VPD says it is also encouraging anyone who may be in danger, or who has information about a violent crime in progress, to call 911.