Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2005
Source: Etobicoke Guardian (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Etobicoke Guardian
Contact:  http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/etobicoke/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2218
Author: Andrew Palamarchuk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POT GROW OPERATIONS POSE A RISK TO TORONTO

The shooting deaths of four RCMP officers in Alberta highlight the dangers 
of marijuana grow operations, an escalating problem in this city, says 
interim Toronto Police Chief Michael Boyd.

"It's an issue that definitely needs to be dealt with, and we have been 
working with our political leaders, working with our fellow police leaders 
trying to address this issue, this growing concern," he told reporters 
during a news conference at police headquarters last week.

"The sense that I get is that most Canadians do not understand. When they 
hear about marijuana grow (operations), they think cannabis. They don't 
really concern themselves with the real issues that we see, and the 
dangers, and the health and safety issues not only to police officers 
dealing with this but to young children who, in many cases, are living in 
this kind of environment."

The four RCMP constables, Brock Myrol, Anthony Fitzgerald Orion Gordon, 
Peter Christopher Schieman and Lionide Nicholas Johnston, were shot last 
Thursday after a raid on a marijuana grow operation in rural Alberta.

Boyd said the news of the killings is "devastating" to the policing 
community across Canada.

"The shock has not diminished," he said.

"What happened is something that lurks as a terrible possibility in the 
minds of all police officers as they protect our communities daily. Yet, 
without fail, these highly trained men and women face such risks with 
bravery and dedication."

Boyd said the four Mounties "have made the ultimate sacrifice, and they 
will never, ever be forgotten."

He said he intended to attend the funerals - that began yesterday - with 
other Toronto officers.

"The Toronto Police Service definitely will be represented at this service."

Acting Insp. Greg McLane of Scarborough's 42 Division, which has the bulk 
of the grow houses in the city, said the deaths have "knocked the policing 
(community) to its knees," and are causing officers to re-evaluate the 
dangers they face.

"It all boils down to an officer safety issue," he said in an interview.

"Officers have to be really diligent now to preserve themselves from harm, 
and we've got to take precautions."

McLane said "aggressive steps" would be taken to dismantle grow operations, 
but it will be costly. "The bottom line is that these investigations are 
expensive and are very exhaustive. They use up a lot of resources."
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MAP posted-by: Beth