The World Today Editorial

GANGS/BACON ET AL MAY 4 2012

            NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO THE BACON BROTHERS WERE THE MOST SUCESSFUL AND MOST FEARED MEMBERS OF B.C.’S CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD.

            THEY LIVED A LIFESTYLE ONLY DRUG PROFITS COULD BUY…OSTENTATIOUS SUV’S COMPLETE WITH ARMOUR AND SECRET COMPARTMENTS… FLASHY CLOTHES AND EXPENSIVE WATCHES AND JEWELLERY AND OF COURSE, LEGGY BLONDS TO COMPLETE THE IMAGE.

            THEY POSESSED FEARSOME REPUTATIONS FOR VIOLENCE TO MATCH THEIR OUTSIZED EGOS.

            WHERE ARE THEY NOW. WELL AS POLICE WHO WARN YOUNGSTERS AGAINST GETTING INVOLVED IN GANGS ARE FOND OF SAYING….YOU WIND UP EITHER DEAD OR IN JAIL.

            SO IT IS WITH THE BACONS.

            TODAY 29-YEAR-OLD JAROD BACON WAS HANDED A 12 YEAR SENTENCE FOR CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFIC COCAINE, AFTER AN UNDERCOVER STING OPERATION IN 2009.  THE CROWN WANTED 21-YEARS, BUT HE GOT 2-FOR-1 CREDIT FOR TIME ALREADY SERVED, EVEN THOUGH THE JUDGE NOTED BACON HAS NOT SHOWN ANY REMORSE, AND IS UNLIKELY TO BE REHABILITATED. HE’LL BE OUT IN 7.

            JAROD JOINS HIS YOUNGER BROTHER JAMIE BEHIND BARS. JAMIE IS SERVING A 7 YEAR SENTENCE ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES BUT FACES LIFE WHEN HE GOES TO TRIAL FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN THE NOTORIOUS SURREY SIX SLAYINGS, IN WHICH SIX MEN – INCLUDING TWO INNOCENT BYSTANDERS – WERE GUNNED DOWN IN A SURREY APARTMENT IN OCTOBER, 2007.

            THE OLDEST BROTHER JONATHAN IS DEAD. MURDERED LAST YEAR OUTSIDE A KELOWNA HOTEL.

CONFIRMATION OF THE  COPS MANTRA, DEAD OR IN JAIL.

            I’VE OFTEN WONDERED WHY THE TRIOS PARENTS, SUSAN AND DAVID BACON STOOD BY THEIR SONS THROUGH THE VICIOUS VIOLENCE, MURDER AND DRUGS. DOES FAMILY LOYALTY THROUGH THICK AND THIN REALLY EXPLAIN IT?  WE MIGHT NEVER KNOW, THEY AREN’T TALKING TO THE MEDIA, WHICH THEY LOATHE.

BUT THERE’S BEEN A PRICE FOR THAT LOYALTY. THE PARENTS FIND THEMSELVES IN COURT TRYING TO AVOID PAYING FOR SON JARROD'S MISTAKES. THE COUPLE ACTED AS SURETIES WHEN HE WAS RELEASED ON BAIL IN MAY 2008 -- BUT A YEAR LATER, JARROD WAS ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFIC DRUGS. THE CROWN HAS APPLIED TO GET THE 175-THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL BOND HIS PARENTS SIGNED, BECAUSE HE VIOLATED HIS BAIL CONDITIONS.

DEAD OR IN JAIL.

THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT FOR EVERY GANGSTER WHO IS TAKEN OUT IN A DRIVE-BY…OR WINDS UP DOING TIME, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS READY AND WILLING TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.

FOR EVERY RANJIT CHEEMA, SANDIP DUHRE, JONATHAN BACON, OR GURMIT DHAK…THERE’S ANOTHER READY TO COMMIT MURDER AND PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK IN THE PROCESS.

FOR EVERY SWAGGERING RON DOSANGH OR BINDY JOHAL CUT DOWN THERE’S ANOTHER PUNK READY TO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE.

DEAD OR IN JAIL.  AS PARENTS, FRIENDS, AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN’T SAY IT TOO OUR YOUNGSTERS OFTEN ENOUGH. WE CAN’T UNDERSCORE THE TRAGEDY OFTEN ENOUGH.