Pubdate: Mon, 02 Oct 2006
Source: Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2179
Author: Nick Puhjera
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

HELP ERADICATE DRUG HOUSES

Drug houses are no match for knowledge-sharing neighbours.

So said two members of the Edmonton Police Service who  spoke at the 
Wetaskiwin Moose Hall during a special  seminar introducing an 
innovative program, Keeping Drug  Dealers on the Run: A Quality of 
Life Initiative.

The program, which started in September 2005, was a  response to 
residents feeling hopeless in the face of  drug houses in their neighbourhoods.

"In the city, they're tired of calling the Tips (Crime  Stoppers) 
line," said Const. David Woudstra.

Speaking to the program's success, Woudstra said "the  RCMP in 
Sherwood Park hate us because (the drug houses  have moved there)."

Telling the crowd he lived in Belgravia, an Edmonton  neighbourhood 
of about 300 families with lots of  seniors and young people, he had 
to fight apathy.

"We don't know the wheel's broken (if you don't report crime)."

Thanks to "gangs" of proactive citizens "all with  canes," resident 
discovered speeders (meth addicts).

Const. Maurice Brodeur, who has been a police officer  for 20 years, 
explained the steps of the program and  his motivation.

"I wanted to help the neighbours get rid of the  problem. I know 
people having to sell their houses  after being there for years."

The first step is to scan and gain awareness of the problem.

Police may drive around and investigate on a very  casual basis.

The second step is analysis -- this is where community  involvement is key.

"Property crimes and drugs are like a bad marriage.  They drink 
together although they don't like each  other," Brodeur said.

In Edmonton's south side Ritchie neighbourhood there  was a 35 per 
cent drop in crime thanks to the program.

There are three levels of drug houses. About 10 per  cent are high 
level houses which are fortified houses  or labs.

The vast majority, 70 per cent, are mid-level  dial-a-dopes and are 
marked by very high traffic.

The rest are low-level affairs. For example in a rental  property, 
where a packet of marijuana may be dropped  from one balcony to another.

The third step is response, which has multiple steps.

Community stations and patrol officers report citizens complaints.

Police members use the Canadian Police Information  Centre (CPIC) to 
do their "due diligence," Brodeur  said.

"There's a reconnaissance of the house. Is it filthy?  Call bylaw. We 
identify the tenants, owners by  recording licence plates," even 
going as far as to  inspect the house's mail.

"I'm just checking on a Crime Stoppers tip (I might say  on my 
initial visit," Brodeur said.

The first formal visit comes with a warning. Next is  partnership and 
agency action.

Partnerships include residents "who are in the know,"  landlords, 
municipal departments -- especially bylaw,  even the dog pound -- and 
provincial agencies like  child crisis and social services.

"Capital Health is great at (property) condemnations."

Then letters are sent to neighbours and finally comes  eviction of 
the drug house operators.

Getting together as a community has tremendous power.

"We all get together like locals on a corn patch. Last  year the 
initial report of an old lady with binoculars  helped solve a River 
Bend homicide.

"We condemned a truck, a shed, even a (cot) under some stairs."

Addicts are also infamous junk collectors, and so are  an easy 
targets for bylaw officials.

The final step is assessment. In total between  September 2005 and 
now, there were 186 reported drug  house addresses, 162 which were 
cleared (111 were  concluded and 51 were made inactive) -- an 88 per 
cent  clearance rate.

The most important feature of displacing a drug house  is that if it 
does re-establish itself, the house is  diminished significantly, 
until it's snuffed out of  existence.

Benefits of Keeping Drug Dealers on the Run are that  it's cost 
effective, uses volunteers and students,  results in greater police 
satisfaction and that the  drug network is removed.

Brodeur said residents everywhere, including  Wetaskiwin, must be 
constantly vigilant.

"(Drug houses) are not an Edmonton thing. It's Fort  McMurray, Wetaskiwin."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman