Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2012
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2012 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400

DRUG TRADE NEXT POLICE TARGET

In what has become more an annual demonstration of stamina rather than
a news event, Saskatoon police Chief Clive Weighill stayed to the
bitter end of Monday's city council meeting to report on how well his
force is doing. That this no longer is news in a city where police
morale and public distrust were nearly daily news events and the
common theme to civic elections less than a decade ago says more about
the police chief than he was able to tell councillors.

As has been the case over the last number of civic surveys, the public
has a growing appreciation of the police service, with almost 92 per
cent of respondents to an Insightrix survey taken last fall insisting
they are either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the job the
service is doing.

The chief also told councillors that when eight critical benchmarks
were measured on a report card, the force earned a score of 8.5 points
from a possible 10. The only two areas that fell short was that the
force's $64.4-million budget was actually overspent by a relatively
paltry $116,000 and the response times on a handful of calls weren't
as fast as was hoped for.

When one compares these shortcomings to areas where the force actually
improved its service - for example, when it comes to reducing the
overall crime rate to 11,231 from the five-year average of 13,439, and
working to reduce sexual assaults, robberies, break-ins, car thefts,
and weapon possessions, all of which posted positive gains - these
failures seem relatively minor.

These successes happen because police have the time, tools and ability
to solve crimes before the shift has ended, getting perpetrators off
the streets before they strike again. It is for that reason morale is
so high, Chief Weighill said.

Chief Weighill went to council Monday to let the city know what it is
getting for its investment. It was only because he had enough troops
on the street on May 21 that his department was so quickly able to
catch suspects in the early morning shooting death of Macdonald
George, a well-liked, hard worker at a local flour mill who appears to
have been attacked after acting as a Good Samaritan.

But this shooting highlights Chief Weighill's next great challenge.
While Saskatoon's booming economy and bulging youth demographic have
created a vibrant and bustling metropolis, they have also attracted
drugs and gangs that sell them.

The chief told council he doesn't like to talk about gangs because
their mention in the media frightens people and empowers the
gangsters. The alternative, however, is even more unpalatable.

Until Amie Dergousoff, Mr. George's co-worker, came forward, many
assumed his fate was sealed by his affiliation. In fact, he seems to
be exactly the kind of person Saskatoon needs to attract.

His loss is a reminder it will take more than police, and more than
civic resources, to meet the challenges success will bring. It will
require a new approach to the drug trade in order to eliminate the
power of the drug gangs.
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