Pubdate: Wed, 17 Mar 2004
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Victoria News
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Keith Norbury

MAN EARNS POLICE THANKS FOR TACKLING DRUG DEALER

WEST SHORE -- The Victoria police department has sent a letter of 
appreciation to a Metchosin man who tackled a suspected drug dealer to the 
ground last month.

Terry Janzer received the letter earlier this month from Insp. Phyllis 
Senay "to express my appreciation" for Janzer helping two police officers - 
Sgt. Rhys Wickes and Const. Scott Connors - on Feb. 24.

Janzer, who is a contract business analyst for the provincial Ministry of 
Health, was walking to his car after work that day when he saw a young man 
running toward him on Fisgard Street with two police officers in pursuit.

"I just stepped in front him, said 'I don't think so' and he ran right into 
me," said Janzer, who is married to Goldstream News Gazette business 
columnist, Carolynn Janzer.

"I grabbed him and took him to the ground until the cops got there."

That took all of about five seconds.

Afterward, the officers took the 49-year-old Janzer's name and told him he 
would probably receive a letter of thanks. Two weeks later, the letter from 
Senay arrived.

In the letter, Senay said the suspect, who Janzer described as about 30 
years old and of medium build, was found in possession of cocaine, ecstasy 
and marijuana.

"He has been charged with possession of a narcotic for the purpose of 
trafficking," wrote Senay, who heads up the department's primary response 
division.

The letter concluded by saying "Your willingness to intervene, at the risk 
of your personal safety, was greatly appreciated by these officers."

"It was no big deal. I got in the guy's way and slowed him down enough for 
the police to catch him. It's not like I did any kung-fu or anything," said 
Janzer, who did study tae-kwon-do a couple of decades ago and earned a 
brown belt.

Victoria police Sgt. Brian Fox said the department often recognizes those 
who assist the police, although it doesn't have to involve physically 
detaining suspects. Assistance can take the form of providing valuable 
information that saves investigating time, for example.

"We don't encourage people to put themselves in physical harm like that, 
but if somebody does it, yes, we like to recognize the fact they've taken 
an involvement and assisted the police," Fox said.

"In retrospect, it was probably a stupid thing to do, but I didn't think 
about it at the time," Janzer said.