Supt. Jeff Pelley (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2024 review

Kamloops RCMP Supt. Pelley discusses prolific offenders and 2024 gang violence

Dec 30, 2024 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Over the course of 2024, the Kamloops RCMP detachment advanced a number of significant files including approved charges on the Jo-Anne Donovan murder case, and the TRU volleyball fatal car crash. The most visual case involved a pair of men, Cameron Cole and Justin Hunt, bringing gang violence to the surface in the tournament capital.

Kamloops RCMP Commander, Supt. Jeff Pelley addressed the uptick of gang activity in 2024, and the work being done to tackle repeat offenders.

Gang violence in Kamloops began to come to a head in the spring, peaking with a North Shore shooting in July, before the eventual arrest of Cameron Cole in August.

“A strategic approach was taken, not only while we advance priority investigations but also focused on ensuring the safety of the community and suppressing or disrupting any acceleration or additional violence,” Pelley told CFJC News.

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Cole along with Hunt, were the subject of a warning put out by Mounties in May, asking the public to steer clear. Since the arrest, gang activity has seemly simmered, at least visibly in the community.

“We have a substantial amount of charges with respect to focusing on those individuals that are entrenched in the drug conflict,” stated Pelley.

Along with the spring shoot-out, prolific offenders continued to impact Kamloops. The RCMP’s prolific offender program has 14 individuals within it, but’s it’s just one facet of the detachments approach.

“We also have the RVOII (Repeat Violent Offender Intervention Initiative), program that was established this year, and we work very closely and in partnership with a number of community stakeholders. The Hub is currently managing 21 offenders, of which 12 belong to the Kamloops area, of that 12, eight are currently in custody,” highlighted Pelley.

Businesses have felt the brunt of street issues and prolific offenders with Kamloops businesses reporting nearly $1 million in losses due to crime in 2024.

“We have had some significant results with respect to that, identifying a number of offenders that were responsible for it, and arresting them and having charges approved and some recent convictions as well, with some significant time, that have been impactful,” said Pelley.

CFJC will have more from our conversation with Supt. Pelley including discussions on staffing and the need for space at the downtown detachment, decriminalization, and early returns on body-worn cameras.