Pubdate: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Mike Howell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Downtown+Eastside VETERAN MEAN STREETS COP CALLING IT A CAREER A few years ago, longtime Downtown Eastside cop Ken Frail thought he'd reached the burnout point. He was working in Canada's poorest postal code, where drug dealing and street crime are rampant. "I asked for a transfer," said the 53-year-old Frail. "But it was probably six weeks after that, that a lump developed on my throat and I realized I had lymphoma." The diagnosis rocked him and his family, but through a series of treatments, Frail is confident the tumour is gone. A visit to his doctor last week confirmed his optimistic outlook. It's not a setback he likes to dwell on, only saying "last year was a hard year for me." His battle with cancer, coupled with his 28 years on the job, caused him to consider retiring last fall. But then Insp. Bob Rolls, commander of the district that includes the Downtown Eastside, called Frail with a job offer. "It was an absolute natural for him, so when I called him up, he was thrilled," Rolls said. "He took about two seconds to decide." Rolls wanted Frail to manage 100 officers, from a variety of squads, for a crackdown on Downtown Eastside hotels, pubs and pawn shops involved in drug dealing and other illegal activity. Project Lucille, as it was dubbed, culminated June 23 with the arrest of 29 people on more than 40 charges. Police targeted 10 licensed premises and 10 pawn shops, corner stores and one grocery store. Police forwarded their evidence to the city's legal department, and expect several of the businesses to lose either their liquor or business licences, or both. Lucille was Frail's final project before he retires in November and it brings to a close a career focused on solving alcohol and drug-related problems in the Downtown Eastside. Last fall, Frail developed an overdose policy that now sees police only respond to fatal drug overdoses, or if public safety is endangered. It's the only policy of its kind in Canada, created to quell fears of drug addicts who believe that a 911 call to get help for themselves, or a friend who has overdosed, could lead to an arrest if police accompany emergency medical personnel to a call. Four years ago, Frail also led the charge to have rice alcohol removed from stores to decrease the number of drunks-and ensuing violence-in the Downtown Eastside. "It was the scourge of the Downtown Eastside for about 18 years, and many people have tried to get it out," he said. The provincial government eventually agreed to his request. Over the years, Frail has worked with many agencies in the neighbourhood, including the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. Ann Livingston, project coordinator for VANDU, said she may not have always agreed with Frail-led police enforcement projects in the Downtown Eastside, but acknowledged he was fair. "He doesn't lie-let's put it that way," Livingston said. "He knows what he wants, and he has earned the respect of people down here that don't always agree with the cops." Judy McGuire, executive director of DEYAS, said Frail is a big supporter of community groups and cares about people in the neighbourhood. Once he makes a commitment to an issue, he's dogged in seeing it through, McGuire said. She said Frail has been known to march drug addicts and low-level dealers into DEYAS' offices to meet with drug and alcohol counsellors-instead of recommending charges against them. "We've worked with Ken over the years and I'm always impressed by his dedication, his caring, and certainly the things that he's accomplished have been notable," she said. Despite his hard work, Frail said his biggest ongoing challenge has been the politics that has prevented or delayed immediate change. The push to get rice alcohol removed-18 years in the running-is a good example, he said. "Policemen like to see things happen quickly," he said, noting the frustration only keeps him pushing harder. "The Downtown Eastside is probably the most addictive place to work for people who really want to make a change. But it's probably got the greatest amount of challenge, the greatest amount of controversy-and I love it." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake