Pubdate: Wed, 07 Mar 2001
Source: Delta Optimist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  5485 - 48th Avenue, Delta B.C. V4k 1X2
Website: http://www.delta-optimist.com/
Author: Maureen Gulyas

RCMP PULLS ITS OFFICERS FROM DELTA POLICE'S DRUG SECTION

Members reassigned as federal force snaps two decade relationship

A long-standing commitment by the federal government to aid municipal 
police departments in drug enforcement is coming to an end.

Delta police chief Jim Cessford has confirmed the RCMP will pull its two 
officers who now work in the Delta police's drug section. Cessford was told 
the officers will be reassigned to other divisions within the federal law 
enforcement agency.

Under the federal drug mandate, the RCMP has funded two positions in the 
drug unit in Delta since 1978.

"We have two excellent members who are a big part of our team and to lose 
them will hurt us," Cessford said. "I'm not happy about it."

Cessford said in order to fully staff the drug unit, the department will 
now have to fund the two positions.

The chief said he was told by an RCMP inspector the federal agency is 
short-staffed and can no longer assign officers to municipal police 
departments, even though the Mounties have a mandate to enforce federal 
drug laws.

Mayor Lois Jackson, a strong proponent of the drug section's work in 
breaking down indoor marijuana growing operations, is not impressed. She 
likens the pull-out to federal government downloading.

"I don't know how much more the feds can pull out of the West Coast," she 
said. "If anything, we need more police officers, we don't need less, and 
I'm prepared to go to the wire on that."

Jackson said she will write to the federal justice minister voicing her 
opposition to the loss of the RCMP officers.

It's not just the loss of the two members that bothers acting S/Sgt. John 
Robin, who supervises the criminal investigation branch, including the drug 
section. "We're losing their experience and the connection to their 
resources in a time when we're having a lot of success. You only have to 
look at the statistics."

Fully supported by Delta council and the Delta police board, the drug unit, 
made up of two Delta officers and an RCMP corporal and constable, seized 
$15 million in marijuana last year. The unit conducted 99 searches, 
arrested 116 people and along the way seized cocaine, heroin, weapons and 
gathered intelligence on organized criminal groups operating on an 
international level.

"It's a step back for us and we're not very happy about it," Robin said.

Last month, the New Westminster police department lost the two RCMP members 
assigned to its drug section. New West S/Sgt. Casey Dehaas said the 
department has had to replace them with two of its own officers, which 
reverberates down the line.

"We've had the RCMP members here for 20-plus years," he said.

RCMP media liaison officer Cpl. Grant Learned said the federal force has 
had to make tough choices. Municipal departments and politicians are 
understandably upset, especially when the system has worked so well, 
Learned said. He added, however, the decision was not made lightly.

"We've not lost any members in the overall fight against drugs. The 
officers are being redeployed to other drug-related units that currently 
have a higher priority," he said.
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