Pubdate: Fri, 08 Feb 2002
Source: Community Press, Quinte Edition, The (CA ON)
Copyright: 2002 February 11 Interactive Publishing Ltd.
Contact: 613-395-2992
Website: http://www.communitypress-online.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1717
Author: Erin McCracken

PROVINCE GIVES POLICE MONEY FOR DRUGS

Cracking down on drugs in Belleville high schools is no small task 
but Belleville police have received some Ontario dollars that will 
help them stem the drug trade among youth here.  The local police 
service is the first to receive this much-needed government funding 
amoung other police services and community groups in the province.

Solicitor General David Turnbull officially signed the giant-sized 
cheque and turned over $23,217 at a press conference Monday 
afternoon. The money was granted in support of the Belleville Police 
Service's initiative to curb youth crime, drug use and trafficking 
within local high schools through awareness programs, surveillance 
and searches on school property.

The money will also allow the local service to purchase cameras, use 
drug-sniffing dogs, rent cars and purchase other security equipment 
in order to catch drug users and traffickers in schools.

"Police cannot do it all by themselves to make our streets safe, to 
make our communities safe."  Turnbull said to the small audience of 
police officials.  Input from local residents and the provincial 
government must also play a role in curbing youth crime.

"I want to reiterate the goverment's continued support for police 
services all across Ontario as well as working with community 
groups," the minister explained.  "I am certainly encouraged by the 
efforts of the Belleville community."

The funding is part of the province's Youth Crime and Violence 
Initiative grant program which was first established last September. 
It was created to provide $2-million each year to police services and 
community groups around the province to help them tackle youth crime, 
reduce violence amount young people and help youth-at-risk. 
Applicants are eligible to receive up to $30,000 for such programs.

Police Chief Steve Tanner said the money will also have a very 
important domino effect on the rest of the city.  By combatting the 
city's drug trade, police will also be able to further tackle 
drug-related crimes such as break and enters.

"We know that the drugs are here in Belleville," Tanner said during 
the announcement.  "We're not going to put our heads in the sand and 
pretend that they are not."  Since last July officers with the 
Belleville Police Service, the Quinte West Police Service and the OPP 
have together seized about $24-million in narcotics, the chief said.
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