Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2013
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Clara Ho
Page: A8

RCMP SNOW PATROL CRACKS DOWN ON CRIME ON SLOPES

If Alberta Mounties have their way, the only kind of high you're going
to get on the slopes is from doing a double black diamond on a powder
day.

RCMP officers are hitting Lake Louise and Nakiska in full uniform on
their days off, patrolling the hills by ski and snowboard to keep an
eye out for substance abuse and other illegal behaviour.

The main thing is to act as a visual deterrence, said Cpl. Jeff
Campbell, Lake Louise RCMP detachment commander and one of eight
officers currently taking part in the volunteer patrol program.

"We were hearing a few things about people smoking marijuana, drinking
in the gondola, reckless skiing, and we wanted to be proactive in
consultation with senior management of ski hills and ski patrollers,"
said Campbell, who patrols by snowboard.

Alcohol and drugs can impair people's judgment on the hill and
increase the risk of injuries to themselves or others, he added.

RCMP officers were already doing foot patrols near the ski racks.
They've simply expanded their patrol area to the slopes, he said.

As of Dec. 15, uniformed officers started patrolling Lake Louise on
their days off, usually Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and peak holiday
times.

On their first day, officers came across people smoking marijuana,
seized three joints and escorted those individuals off the hill, he
said.

This month, they also started keeping an eye on skiers and
snowboarders at Nakiska in Banff. Campbell said he's hoping to expand
the program to Norquay, Sunshine and other ski hills.
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MAP posted-by: Matt