Pubdate: Wed, 15 Feb 2006
Source: Peterborough This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Peterborough This Week
Contact:  http://www.peterboroughthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1794
Author: Lance Anderson

DRUG FIGHT COMMITTEE IDEA REBUFFED

According To Peterborough's Top Cop, It's Up To City Council To 
Strike A Committee To Fight Drugs.

On Tuesday, the Peterborough-Lakefield Police Services Board received 
correspondence from city council about seeking out the resources 
needed to tackle the increasing drug problem in Peterborough. A 
motion to do so was put forward by Councillor Bill Juby last week.

But Police Chief Terry McLaren says his interpretation of the matter 
is it's up to council to lead the way in forming a committee.

Peter McLean, chair of the police services board, says under the 
Police Services Act, the board doesn't take direction from council 
but will take the resolution forwarded "under advisement." Chief 
McLaren affirms that, adding he's not opposed to working with a 
committee to develop strategies to fight drugs.

"Maybe there's something out there we haven't looked at. If it means 
putting together a task force to target areas, that's something we 
can look at."

Chief McLaren says an officer was recently re-assigned from the 
Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit to work strictly on the drug 
problem. That coupled with the work of frontline officers and 
intelligence officers results in numerous drug-related arrests. In 
2005, 143 drug-related charges were laid -- a 36.2 per cent increase 
from the year prior.

"If the perception out there is nothing is being done, it's totally 
wrong. Our officers are out there making arrests."
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