Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005
Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Burnaby Newsleader
Contact:  http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315
Author: Michael Mcquillan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

COPS COMBAT GROW-OPS WITH HIGH-TECH

Burnaby RCMP will soon have a better way to put the heat on marijuana grow 
operations.

The detachment plans to purchase a high-tech thermal imaging camera that 
will essentially allow them to peer into a suspected illegal grow 
operation. The camera, worth $17,000, detects high heat signatures such as 
the hydroponic lights used in indoor pot farms.

It will be a valuable tool, said Corp. Mark McCutcheon, who heads Burnaby's 
Green Team.

The camera can be used in the daytime and at night. Previously the RCMP 
were not allowed to use them because of concern over privacy laws. But 
recently they were approved, as long as they're used only on suspected grow 
operations under active investigation.

"We can't just be out there hunting for them and point them at everyone's 
house. As long as we have an investigation we can use it on the residence. 
Then we can use that as grounds to get a [search] warrant," said McCutcheon.

"It's going to be a great tool for eliminating houses that people call 
about and say, 'Oh, I think there's a grow-op next door.' We can then rule 
them out right away," he said. "It will make us more efficient in the way 
we do our job."

* The topic of grow operations has become a hot one with four RCMP officers 
in Alberta killed while investigating one Thursday. A suspect, believed to 
be the grow-op gardner, shot the four members with an rapid fire assault 
rifle. He was later found dead.

"We're all in shock over this," said Corp. Pierre Lemaitre, media liaison 
officer for the Burnaby detachment.

"This is the sort of thing that can happen anytime, not just because of the 
dangers of police work but also dealing with grow-ops and people with 
criminal minds," he said. "This reaffirms our resolve to make this a safer 
community."
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MAP posted-by: Beth