Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau tells 580 CFRA another shooting in Penny Drive fits a pattern of targeted drug and gang violence that puts innocent bystanders at risk.

Bordeleau says police have are focussing on guns and gangs, and the violence may be a reaction to more active police operations.

"We've arrested 76 people and laid hundreds of charges. We've taken 52 crime guns off the street, 20 of those were hand guns. So, that has caused a significant disruption within the leadership of the gang world," Bordeleau told CFRA.

As the violence continues Bordeleau says his number one concern is making sure that no innocent bystander is harmed.

"But regardless if they're being targeted or not there's individuals in that household that are not associated with gang activity but they may get hurt. That's a serious concern to us," said Bordeleau.

"I think, right now, what the public wants, what they want to hear from their police service is, 'what are we doing with respect to enforcement and suppression," he said.

The main challenge, though, is the continued refusal of witnesses and victims to come forward to police.

"Just as an example we had two guys shooting at each other and it's obvious to us what's taken place yet they don't want to talk to us and they're trying to shoot themselves out and this is around the drug trade," said Bordeleau.

Bordeleau has already agreed to increase police presence in the Penny Drive neighbourhood where two shootings took place in less than a week and has agreed to dedicate more investigators to the guns and gangs file.

The councillor for the area, Mark Taylor has organized a closed-door meeting between key partners including his staff, the Ottawa Police Service, community leaders, and stakeholders on Tuesday, December 16.

Taylor said the crime that takes place in the neighbourhood isn't necessarily a symptom of the lower-income demographic.

"It always seems to be tied back to certain individuals from outside the neighbourhood, and some who live in the neighbourhood, and these folks are known to police, they're known to Ottawa Community Housing security, so I think this is more tied to individuals who've chosen to involve themselves in a life of crime and now the community's paying the price for it which isn't acceptable," said Taylor.