Pubdate: Mon, 14 Sep 2009
Source: Clearwater Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Clearwater Times
Contact:  http://www.clearwatertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1448

SGT. SEIB GIVES SIX-MONTH RCMP REPORT TO COUNCIL

Clearwater RMCP detachment responded to 1,115 calls for service during
the first half of 2009. These ranged from nuisance calls such as
barking dogs and youths drinking, to serious calls including spousal
assaults, sexual assaults, and robbery. Because of the high volume of
calls and the small number of members available, the RCMP continues to
be a strategically focused organization. For the year 2009, RCMP
continues to focus on organized crime, youth, and traffic safety. In
addition, every detachment has been tasked with initiating four
recruiting projects for the current year.

1. The first priority the Clearwater Detachment is focusing on is
combating organized crime in our area. This includes targeting
marijuana grow operations and drug traffickers. After taking down 53
grows in the past three years, they are becoming harder to locate. It
would appear that in many cases growers are moving elsewhere as the
chances of getting caught in Clearwater are high. So far in 2009 three
grows have been taken down, with a total of 2,565 plants being
destroyed. In addition one local coke dealer was busted, yielding 33
gm of coke, a small quantity of pot, and several pills. This case will
progress through the court system over the next one to two years.

The following is a recap of drugs seized in our area in the first six
months of 2009. A total of 2,565 marijuana plants, 3,994 gm pot, 450
gm hashish, 1,063 gm coke, 1,030 gm meth, 1,000 gm ketamine, two gm
heroin, 90 ecstasy pills, 113 caps of morphine, and 110 miscellaneous
pills. In addition, a 9 mm Beretta handgun was seized. The street
value of these drugs exceeds $2,800,000. Many of the drugs were seized
from vehicles passing through from Edmonton to Vancouver.

2. In an effort to reduce carnage on our highways, both general duty
and traffic services have focused on a second priority in targeting
drinking and driving and aggressive driving. Clearwater members
continue to maintain a high visibility on our highways. There has been
one fatality, 13 injury crashes, and 65 property damage crashes so far
this year (a total of 79 crashes attended to date.) There have been 14
impaired driving charges and 31 24-hour suspensions handed out so far
this year. Once again there is zero tolerance for drinking and driving
in our area. If a person is over the legal (per se) limit, he or she
will be charged.

3. Members of the local detachment continue reaching out to youth as a
third priority. Programs include DARE, which teaches younger children
how to stay away from drugs; Birthday Party, which helps Grade 9
students to decide not to drink and drive; as well as a school liaison
program, which has officers assigned to all local schools and to two
youth groups.

4. The forth priority is for our detachment to put on a recruiting
initiative each quarter this year. During the first quarter one of our
officers attended the Emergency Responders Day. He spent about four
hours demonstrating the emergency equipment and answering questions.
The second quarter we put recruiting information in the local paper.
So far this year we have had two people complete applications for the
RCMP and have had several inquiries into a career with the police force. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr