Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2007
Source: Gleaner, The (CN QU)
Copyright: 2007 Huntingdon Gleaner Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.hebdos.net/tgh/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4535
Author: Patrice Laflamme, Translated by Sarah Rennie
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POLICE OFFICER RECOGNIZED FOR HIS WORK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

A young police officer of the Haut-Saint-Laurent detachment of the 
Surete du Quebec has been recognized for two years of dedicated 
service as the coordinator of the Programme Cisaille, which targets 
marijuana production and trafficking each summer in the area. Officer 
Patrick Leclerc received an award of recognition in the category of 
"personal engagement" from Christian Chalin, the commander-in-chief 
of the Monteregie district, in the presence of several of his 
colleagues and regional leaders of the police force. The ceremony was 
held on Wednesday, May 16 at the Plaza Hotel in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

"I am accepting this award not only for myself," said Leclerc, a 
native of Saint-Hyacinthe. "I want to share it with my colleagues who 
work extremely hard to carry out this vast police operation year 
after year. It is really a team effort," he said, tipping his hat to 
the officers who join him each summer in an effort to eliminate the 
expansion of the production and trafficking of marijuana.

Leclerc also paid tribute to his colleagues in Beauharnois-Salaberry, 
and those with the RCMP, who take part in one way or another in each 
one of the Programme Cisaille operations.

As an officer with the SQ for seven years, the 27 year-old has been 
coordinating the annual plan to fight the expansion of the marijuana 
trade in the MRC since 2005. "For a long time I had wanted to take on 
a role like that in Saint-Hyacinthe. The fight against narcotics was 
something I held close to my heart as a young officer," said Leclerc 
enthusiastically.

Programme Cisaille's main strategy involves destabilizing the 
criminal organizations that direct the production and distribution of 
marijuana in the region, which requires that each operation with the 
Programme is meticulously organized and uses the best tools and 
manpower available.

Each requires a team of police officers that are ready for everything 
and trained in the use of high tech equipment to scan the ground from 
the air and vehicles that can move through various terrains and 
navigate less than accessible locations.

Air and ground surveillance of any suspected site and aerial 
photographs are necessary to evaluate all possible plans of action 
and to determine the number of agents required for each operation.

As the years pass, police forces have had to become more vigilant in 
order to seize the greatest quantity of drugs possible.

According to Leclerc, the methods used by traffickers are becoming 
more sophisticated and the territory is difficult to investigate 
because it is so vast. However, after each intervention, the police 
officers are able to take pride in knowing that they have 
accomplished their duty. "Nobody among us is apprehensive or afraid 
of possible retaliation. If we are well prepared to do our work, 
there is nothing to worry about," suggests Leclerc.

If the operations by the Programme Cisaille are successful in the 
area, it is in part because of the citizens who tip the police to 
areas where there may be a concentration of marijuana seedlings. "It 
is necessary to work according to the data that is provided to us by people.

We would not be able to work without the invaluable information that 
they give us. They are anonymous, but are of invaluable help to us. 
It is extremely important that people continue to inform the police," 
says Leclerc.

Agricultural producers and the different groups who represent them 
are beginning to show more interest in working with the police to 
track the patches of marijuana seedlings planted in their fields. 
"There is good collaboration between the farmers and the police officers.

We discussed this with the UPA just before Christmas and it is 
certain that producers are afraid for their goods," says Leclerc, 
noting that, "if an individual is stopped, our sources will not be 
revealed in court.

All is treated confidentially", he explains.

It goes without saying that to receive such an award will only spur 
Mr. Leclerc and his colleagues to continue their fight to the finish 
against the marijuana plantations in agricultural fields and wooded 
areas in the region. "It is what motivates me to work harder", he says.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman