Pubdate: Fri, 03 Feb 2012
Source: Nelson Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/4kNvY8sy
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4866
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

PROTECTION WITHOUT FEAR

To serve and protect: it's at the core of police work. It's one of 
the aspects of Canadian society that makes our quality of life the 
envy of so many.

Sometimes people forget that the officers who patrol our streets are 
there to help. Even if you are the most upstanding citizen, the sight 
of a police car in your rearview mirror can produce small pangs of 
panic. It's human nature to get nervous in the presence of authority. 
It's actually not a bad thing because it shows respect.

Unless you're a bad person or have committed a crime, there's really 
no reason to fear police. Though they wear a uniform and carry a gun, 
these men and women are really no different than anybody else.

The recent scare across the province about a new form of the drug 
ecstasy is an example of when fear of authority can lead to tragic outcomes.

Last week Nelson Police Department Sgt. Paul Burkart told the Star 
that local officers are taking this threat seriously. What jumped out 
of the Friday story was the approach Sgt. Burkart gave to the situation.

Sgt. Burkart said some of the deaths which have occurred because of 
this strain of ecstasy could have been prevented. But instead of 
alerting authorities, those around the people who found their body in 
distress chose not to call. Because of that apprehension, funerals were held.

"The message we would like to get out there is that in these cases 
when the ambulance is called -- and in most drug cases -- the police 
are going to show up, but in that particular case we are not 
interested in pursuing charges against the user that's in trouble. At 
that particular time we are concerned about the person's health," 
Burkart told us.

The police know people are going to do drugs. If people are producing 
or selling drugs, they are going to do their best to arrest them. But 
officers in this community are not kicking doors down to arrest the 
casual user. That's never going to be a priority.

Local police don't encourage drug use, but they also don't want 
people to die. Accepting that police are here to help can go a long 
way towards avoiding needless tragedy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom