Pubdate: Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 The Daily Herald-Tribune
Contact: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=1&x=contact
Website: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804
Author: Damien Wood

REPORT-A-DRUG-HOUSE STILL GOING STRONG

The Grande Prairie RCMP version of the Report-A-Drug-House program is
still pushing forward to give community members what they want - less
self-styled drug kingpins living across the street.

Const. Tony Walker has been working with the community since May,
2007, to generate community initiative in controlling what comes into
their neighbourhood. He has had the benefit of a second member in
Const. Nathan Ashley since July.

Report-A-Drug-House is an idea local RCMP adopted from the Edmonton
Police Service, which has a similar program of its own. The leader of
that program, Sgt. Maurice Brodeur, came to Grande Prairie to present
information and instruction on his operation.

Local RCMP took what they liked from it and forged a program of their
own. "No one wants to see a house like that in their community ... and
the police can't be everywhere all the time, so if people know that
it's going on, we rely on their information heavily," said Ashley.

"It's like a puzzle, and when you have a house like that in your
community, everybody sees something different. Those are all pieces of
the puzzle ... we need all the information we can get for a good
picture of what we're looking at for our investigation."

Ashley added it is often bits of information people would normally
dismiss as irrelevant that turn out to be the "pieces of puzzle" he
and Walker are missing.

Granted, not recognizing information for what it is only accounts for
one reason why a community member might not bother coming forward to
the police.

When dealing with those who deal drugs, there is the perception of
danger in being a snitch.

"What we find a lot of the time is that certain people in the
community are scared. What we try to push is that this
Report-a-Drug-House (phone) line that we have is totally anonymous.
You don't have to leave your name and you don't have to leave a
callback number," said Ashley.

"It is always helpful if they do ... but you don't have to if you
don't want to."

Once Walker and Ashley have been made aware of what may well be a drug
house, the duo will investigate. If it appears to be a legitimate case
of the illegitimate, they will adopt whatever tactics they have to in
removing those residents from that community.

It does not always come down to drug-related criminal charges, either,
or even criminal charges of any kind.

The simple pressure of potential arrest can at times be enough to
convince some they are better off moving on.

Ashley said one successful case involved the completely unrelated
charge of theft of electricity to do the trick.

Though his tactics may occasionally have to lean toward the subtle,
Ashley said the visible indicators when a new drug house pops up
within a community often are not.

"You have a neighbour that doesn't work, but they're driving two or
three cars.

"There are people coming and going at all hours ... and they'll stay
for five minutes then leave. The outside of the house is usually not
taken care of at all," said Ashley.

"There are exceptions to every rule. There are certainly some houses
that you'll look at and think it doesn't look like a drug house, but
that's where the investigational process begins."

Ashley said there is no timeline for how long the Report a Drug House
program will go on or when and how much further it will expand. In
light of its success - with 90 houses dealt with so far - Ashley said
the community is still embracing the program as a good one. The
program can be reached at 780-830-7444 in regard to tips or concerns.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin