Pubdate: Wed, 07 Oct 2009
Source: Okotoks Western Wheel (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009, Okotoks Western Wheel
Contact:  http://www.westernwheel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1638
Author: Darlene Casten

POLICE APPEAL TO PUBLIC TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF DRUGS

Small town Alberta is not immune from the trappings of what are often 
perceived as big city problems, say Turner Valley RCMP, and they want 
locals to be on the lookout for the signs of drug dealing and manufacturing.

Drugs are no stranger to the High Country area, said Sgt. Jim Ross of 
the Turner Valley RCMP, and if people are doing drugs that means 
somebody is manufacturing and selling them.

"We want to identify drug traffickers," Ross said.

He said there are people in the area who are drug users and they must 
be getting their supply from somewhere.

With the help of the public, Ross said he hopes to be able to get 
those people locked up behind bars.

"People, a lot of times, have ideas," he said. "You want to step 
forward and give us the information so we can work on it at a higher level."

He said it has been a number of years since a marijuana grow-op has 
been uncovered in the area, and he also said it would not be 
surprising if there were some in High Country.

"We are not getting a lot of reports of (grow-ops)," Ross said. "I 
think it is naive to think it's not happening."

The Turner Valley detachment is asking the public to report any 
suspicious activity they see and they sent out a pamphlet in recent, 
local water bills to show people some of the tell-tale signs of drug activity.

Ross said an unusual amount of late night traffic, closed blinds or 
shades, burned bottles or people exchanging money for goods and 
people concealing items in garbage bags can be signs of drug use or 
drug trafficking.

Signs of drug production include strange smells such as chemicals, 
constant humming, strange alterations such as large vents and 
multiple generators, moisture on windows, the foundation or the roof, 
and little garbage leaving the home.

He said he hopes people who notice this kind of suspicious activity 
call the police.

"If people care about their community they'll report this stuff to 
us," he said, adding people can call the police anonymously or call 
Crime Stoppers.

"They could be providing the missing piece of the puzzle, or the 
beginning piece of the puzzle, or the last piece of the puzzle," he 
said. "Each one of those little tidbits of information builds up."

The police and the public can be partners in catching those behind 
the drug trade, he continued.

"We want people to take ownership of the problems in the community," Ross said.

Surrounding towns had identified drugs as one of the problems they 
want to tackle this year, which was the impetus behind the push by 
police to get the message out to the community that drug activity 
needs to be reported.

A new recruit, Const. Jeff Mahar, created the pamphlet and said he is 
happy to get involved.

"It is a way to give back to the community," Mahar said.

Drug use affects everyone, he said.

Crime is often fuelled by drug addictions and hits taxpayers in the 
pocketbook through taxes incurred by health care costs, fraud, 
insurance costs and policing.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart