Pubdate: Thu, 02 Nov 2006 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Jon Willing SHOT IN DRUG COPS' ARM Squad Bags 10-Officer Boost As Workload Goes 'Through The Roof' Marijuana plants cultivate -- a crime the beefed-up Ottawa police drug unit will now be better able to nip in the bud. Busier than ever before, the city's drug squad also has its hands full dealing with crack, ecstasy, meth and even prescription pills. (Ottawa Police photo) Stretched to its limit and frustrated by scant resources, the Ottawa police drug unit will finally receive the treatment it needs when 10 cops join the squad later this month. The drug unit will be split into two investigative teams, with one focused on organized crime, including marijuana grow operations. The other will continue pursuing investigations initiated by detectives and patrol officers. Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault, who heads the drug unit, says he's now at a "comfortable" staffing level. "We're busier than we have ever been," Pinault points out. TURNED DOWN WORK The 10 cops will be added to the unit on Nov. 20, bringing it to a total of 28 officers and two support staff. The drug unit is getting the help thanks to a provincial-municipal partnership to fund police hirings. Pinault says his squad has had to turn down work because he just didn't have enough cops to follow up on investigations. Until now, Pinault notes, the drug unit hasn't significantly expanded since municipal amalgamation in 2001. Randy Mar, of the police's corporate planning division, says drug-related incidents in Ottawa increased 15% from 2004 to 2005. Those incidents included seizures, charges and drug-related complaints, Mar notes. And two significant enforcements -- Project Sally and Project Angle Iron -- roped in a number of drug suspects in Lowertown and Hintonburg last year. METH, ECSTASY COMBO The increasing number of narcotics cases has resulted in a workload that has "gone through the roof," Pinault says. Although attention has shifted to crystal meth lately, the Ottawa drug unit has seen constant problems involving marijuana, crack cocaine, prescription pills and ecstasy. In Ottawa, methamphetamine has been turning up in ecstasy pills. Pinault says there has been only one occurrence where police found the drug in powder form. Front-line cops are also seeing disturbing new drug trends. Staff Sgt. Paul Johnston, whose officers in the central-east district patrol Rideau-Vanier -- the ward with the highest crime rate -- says drug pushers are increasingly targeting the homeless. "We're seeing more open drug use in our downtown core," Johnston says. "Crack cocaine is the most prevalent drug we see." Drug charges aren't included in the annual police activity report or the ward-by-ward crime stats released last week by Ottawa police. While recent stats only detail Criminal Code charges, drug charges fall under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Mar and Pinault note that drug-related stats would be skewed because the drug unit does so much proactive work, which adds to the number of charges laid. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek