Pubdate: Thu, 02 Mar 2017
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Aedan Helmer
Page: A7

LOCAL CRIME STOPPERS TO LAUNCH FENTANYL TIP LINE

Agencies across the province step up efforts in fight against deadly
opioids

Ultimately, it's about getting this drug off the street before any
more loss of life takes place.

A Crime Stoppers initiative aimed at getting fentanyl off the streets
could soon be coming to the capital, as a deadly opioid crisis sweeps
across the country.

Durham Regional Crime Stoppers launched its program Wednesday,
offering a $1,000 cash reward to anyone whose tips directly result in
the seizure of illegal fentanyl or its derivatives, or to the arrest
of fentanyl traffickers.

Richard McMullen, president of the National Capital Crime Stoppers,
confirmed a similar program will be unveiled in the coming days, with
the local Crime Stoppers planning a rollout with law enforcement
partners and other Crime Stoppers agencies across Eastern Ontario.

Durham Crime Stoppers will initially run its fentanyl tip line through
the end of April, following initiatives in North Bay, where there was
a similar campaign in late 2016, and Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka Crime
Stoppers, currently in the midst of a two-month reward program for the
Barrie area.

McMullen said that once the local Crime Stoppers initiative is
launched, "We'd like to extend that timing and potentially offer a
greater amount (in a cash reward)."

McMullen said the local agency will be coming out with more
information in a matter of days.

According to OPP Sgt. Peter Leon, the Barrie Crime Stoppers initiative
was launched partly in response to five fentanyl-related overdoses in
Barrie in a single night in October. He said he expects other Crime
Stoppers agencies will adopt similar strategies in the fight against
fentanyl.

"I've been seeing an expansion of this idea happen and it's very
encouraging to provide this type of outlet for people who have
information, because, ultimately, it's about getting this drugoff the
street before any more loss of life takes place," Leon said.

In Ottawa there have been a pair of high-profile overdose deaths
publicized in recent weeks, Chloe Kotval and Teslin Russell.

McMullen said the local initiative is not in direct response to the
recent opioid-linked overdoses in the Ottawa area, but rather to the
larger issue of fentanyl and counterfeit opioids.

McMullen said National Capital Crime Stoppers has already had
measurable success in taking drugs off the streets, saying "millions
of dollars in street value" drugs have been seized from local Crime
Stoppers tips. Anonymous tips to the local Crime Stoppers led police
to seize more than $280,000 in narcotics in last year alone in Ottawa.

"It's a pretty significant amount if you look back from 1985 to
today," said McMullen. "That's a significant impact to the folks who
are distributing and trafficking narcotics."

McMullen said the majority of tipsters do not even claim their
reward.

"For us, frankly, it's not the tip that's the big enticement, it's
(media attention) and awareness and raising the profile," he said.
"(Fentanyl) is a terrible drug and it's made a significant impact on
our local community, and it's something we hope we can help curtail."

- - With files from The Canadian Press
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MAP posted-by: Matt