Home
World
Canada
- BC
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Thunder Bay
- Sudbury
- Windsor
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- NB
- PEI
- NS
- NL
- North
Politics
Health
Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Film
- Television
- Books
- Media
- Art & Design
- Theatre
Technology & Science
Money
Consumer Life
Diversions
Weather
Your Voice

RCMP inadvertently sponsored U.S. gang websites

Last Updated: Monday, February 19, 2007 | 8:05 AM ET

CBC News

The RCMP say they have removed online advertisements inadvertently linking the force to one of the most notorious Latino street gangs in America.

'My message to the Mounties: You want to disassociate yourselves from any kind of a connection like that, and not be part of that.'—Lieut. Paul Vernon, LAPD

The CBC alerted the Mounties on Friday to police recruitment ads that popped up on websites run by the Los Angeles-based 18th Street Gang, an international outfit considered by criminal analysts to be one of the most violent gangs in the world.

The RCMP banner ad that appeared on the 18th Street Gang website.
(CBC)

On one internet message board, death threats to rival crews and violent messages appeared as if they were endorsed by an RCMP logo inviting youth to apply to the force. At the top of another page on a different site also owned by the 18th Street Gang, a banner ad featuring a smiling female Mountie showed up above a dedication to slain gang member "L'il Creeper."

"Some of the documentation I read was totally inappropriate, and our logo to our recruiting effort should never have been placed with these ads," RCMP Sgt. Marty Blais said.

Web-hosting companies such as Angelfire and Lycos make it possible for almost anyone — including gangs — to acquire online real estate, with costs covered by sponsors who place banner ads.

Blais blamed online company Lycos for disregarding clear instructions on where to place the ads.

He said after being told about the problem, Lycos agreed to donate free online space to the RCMP to compensate Canadian taxpayers for money spent sponsoring the 18th Street Gang.

Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Lieut. Paul Vernon said the gang has chapters stretching from El Salvador to Montreal and has been linked to dozens of homicides in Los Angeles County. It is believed there are more than 20,000 members in L.A. County alone.

"My message to the Mounties: You want to disassociate yourselves from any kind of a connection like that, and not be part of that," said Vernon. "Shame on those companies or web-hosting sites that would allow that kind of trash to go on there."

This story is now closed to commenting.

Internal Links

RCMP

Ottawa Headlines

Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Neighbours stunned by arrest of Col. Williams: Ottawa resident Michael Gennis was stunned when he found out his new neighbour, Col. Russell Williams, had been charged with killing two women in eastern Ontario.
Snowmobile head-on crash kills Ottawa man: A 10-year-old boy helped save the life of his father following a snowmobile collision in western Quebec that killed another man.
Senators keep marching with win over Flames: The Ottawa Senators notched their 12th win in the last 13 games with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the visiting Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Premier to prorogue Ont. legislature briefly: Premier Dalton McGuinty will prorogue the Ontario legislature briefly, although the break isn't expected to start until after next week.

Canada Headlines

Health costs push Alberta budget deficit to $4.75B: Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is projecting a record $4.75-billion budget deficit and planning cuts in many departments while increasing health-care spending.
Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Neighbours stunned by arrest of Col. Williams: Ottawa resident Michael Gennis was stunned when he found out his new neighbour, Col. Russell Williams, had been charged with killing two women in eastern Ontario.
Olympic spirit will launch B.C. reforms: throne speech: The B.C. government says it will use the province's post-Olympics momentum to drive changes that include offering tax breaks to families with children, reforming education and lobbying Ottawa to amend "Byzantine bureaucratic practices."
Vancouver tap water vies with Olympic sponsor: Vancouver has started a campaign to encourage Olympic tourists to drink the region's tap water instead of buying bottled water, creating a potential conflict with one of the Games' biggest sponsors.

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

Trenton colonel's charges spur cold case review: The 2001 slaying of a Nova Scotia woman at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario is among the cases being re-examined after murder charges were laid against Col. Russell Williams.
Health costs push Alberta budget deficit to $4.75B: Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is projecting a record $4.75-billion budget deficit and planning cuts in many departments while increasing health-care spending.
Ottawa to appeal injection site ruling: The federal government is asking the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal a lower court ruling that sanctioned Vancouver's supervised drug injection site.
Haitian man pulled from rubble: A 28-year-old man has been pulled from rubble in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, claiming to have been trapped there since the massive earthquake on Jan. 12.
Tories need plan for isotope shortage: Ignatieff: Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff accused the Conservative government of having no plan of action to deal with a medical isotope shortage expected to worsen later this month.