Pubdate: Fri, 06 Dec 2013
Source: Richmond News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmond-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244
Author: Alan Campbell

DRUG SCENE IN RICHMOND OPENS EYES

Students fascinated by final RCMP Youth Squad presentation

Some of them stared intently at the officer, while some were
feverishly taking notes as he spoke.

And the rest? They had worried looks on their faces as Chris Piper, an
undercover officer from the Richmond Drug Target Team, revealed the
reach illegal substances has across the city.

It was an eye-opener for many in the 45-strong RCMP Youth Squad
program - an eight-week program for invited Grade 10-12 students
who've shown a special interest in the emergency services.

The students, for example, raised their collective eyebrows when Piper
explained that ketamine - a horse tranquilizer with an hallucinogenic
effect on humans - can be found being dealt in many Richmond schools.

It was a fascinating hour for the students; sixty minutes which
culminated in them passing around bags of confiscated heroin, ecstasy,
cocaine, crack and meth pipes.

They asked questions, such as "How does heroin kill you?" and "Where
do you find meth?"

Piper, a nine-year veteran of the drug team, told how the squad he
works with aim to "strike hard and strike fast" on the 15 drug lines
known to operate currently around the city.

He told of informants and sources the unit utilizes to keep track of
the drug scene in Richmond.

The students were then shown three short, but harrowing, videos: One
of a drug-addicted prostitute, who told of being raped multiple times,
one of a cocaine addict, who explained how he's lost everything, and a
third of a slavering man, lying prostrate on the curb from being high
on ketamine.

Piper's hard-hitting presentation was the last of seven for the
students, many of whom have aspirations to join one of the emergency
services when they're old enough.

Jasmine Braun, Avery Rennie and Glen Kirkland - all Grade 12 students
at McMath secondary - are three such teenagers.

"If other kids watched (the videos), they might think twice about
getting involved with drugs," said Jasmine, who's interested in a
career in law.

"I was surprised to hear about the ketamine in our schools and the
meth labs in the city."

All three said they learned a lot from the presentation about the
warning signs of people involved in dealing or taking drugs and from
the previous six weeks.

"It's been great to see that people in the emergency services,
especially the RCMP, are normal people," said Avery.

Glen, who's already actively involved in Richmond RCMP's Crime
Prevention Unit and was the only Grade 11 student from Richmond to
attend the 2013 Lower Mainland RCMP Youth Academy, wants to pursue a
career in law enforcement because he "loves giving back to the
community" and "cares about helping people."

"I'm really interested in how police tackle organized crime, so
tonight's presentation was very informative," said Glen.

Cpl. Anette Martin - who spearheaded the program, along with the other
emergency services and the school district - said the last two months
provided a wonderful opportunity to interact with some
top-of-the-barrel students.

"A lot of the time, we only really get to know the more problematic
kids, so this has been very worthwhile," said Martin, a 29-year
veteran of the Mounties.

"And it's been a great opportunity to partner with the other agencies
as well.

"The program itself, I think, has given the students a sense of what a
career in the emergency services is like; it's hard not to be
impressed by what they've seen."

The program closes Monday with a certificate presentation ceremony.
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MAP posted-by: Matt