Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jan 2006 Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2006, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332 Author: Michelle Thompson DRUG CRACKDOWN TOPS LIST IN 2006 Police chief says: Cracking down on drugs and fighting crimes against seniors are among the new year's resolutions of the Belleville Police Service. Reducing the number of 911 hang-up calls, working to improve the crime clearance rate and committing to resources are also high on the service's 2006 to-do list, said Police Chief Stephen Tanner. These things are top priorities for good reason, he said. "The Belleville Police Service is committed to meeting the needs of our community and citizens and to making this city the safest possible in which to live, work, and play," he said. "We are also committed to the prevention of crime whenever possible and to the pursuit of criminals who commit crimes within our city." Since the past is often the best indicator of the future, Tanner said they've done some reflecting on previous years to determine where improvement is needed this year. In 2005, for instance, Project Longarm (a drug-enforcement team) seized roughly $90 million in drugs and property from Hastings and Prince Edward counties. Tanner said that number is indicative of his service's need to continue plugging away in the fight against narcotics. "Putting resources into drug enforcement has had a very positive impact in that it has removed a large quantity of drugs from the streets," he said. He said drug abuse in Belleville has also resulted in spin-off crimes such as robberies and thefts. Such incidents, he said, "have a significant impact on the crime rate in this area." This year, police also will be looking at creating a hang-up 911 call bylaw that would, ideally, discourage people from abusing the service. It would also help recuperate lost money. Last year, Belleville police responded to 866 hang-up 911 calls. Usually, two officers respond to each call and arrive to find no emergency. "This is time consuming and takes officers away from other investigations..." Tanner said. Police are considering using the false fire alarm bylaw as a blueprint for a potential false 911 call bylaw. Those who yank fire alarms without legitimate reasons are issued a warning the first time. The second time, they're given a $50 fine. That bylaw has brought in between $35,000 and $40,000 to Belleville Police and has significantly reduced the number of false fire alarms. Fighting crimes against seniors will also be a priority for city officers, Tanner said. They are more vulnerable to telephone scams, he said, and are often nervous of large groups of people. "We need to work with them in making them feel more secure," Tanner said. "They sometimes have an increased sense of fear that might not be warranted in some circumstances." Last year, Belleville police solved about 40 per cent of the crimes committed in the city. Tanner says it is "very high and compares well provincially with other services." He said he hopes their crime clearance rate is as high this year. That goal would, of course, be more attainable if the BPS is able to use the Community Policing Partnership (CPP) dollars, which they were given last year, to help fund the hiring of three new officers. Since the CPP will pay only half the salary of each officer, Tanner said they will be working with the board to try and get funding for the other half of their salaries. Tanner expects the BPS' new year's ambitions will keep officers hopping in 2006. "This coming year is once again expected to be a busy one for the men and women of the Belleville Police service." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom