Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 Source: Northumberland News (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing, Ltd. Contact: http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/nn/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2373 Author: Vince Versace CLEMENT AIMS FOR 13 IN 12 MONTHS Police Chief's Goals Include Drug Enforcement Team COBOURG - Thirteen goals over the next 12 months have been established for the Town's police service by Cobourg's Police Chief Garry Clement. "I am not charting a course for me, I am charting a course for policing in this community," says Chief Garry Clement. Chief Clement outlined 13 initiatives he plans to tackle this year in his 2004 Directional Statement. The initiatives could deliver a drug enforcement team, auxiliary officer program, two Community Advisory Boards and a continued search for opportunities to regionalize policing within Northumberland County. "What I hope this statement will do is cause our political masters to give some more thought on the policing needs in our community," adds Chief Clement. The Chief says the initiative of continuing to explore regional policing will continue until local municipalities say, "enough is enough. "Economies of scale would be realized and our scarce policing and fiscal resources would be maximized to the benefit of the Northumberland County citizens," says Chief Clement. Cobourg's police chief would like to establish a street drug team to deal with drug activity and Cobourg's youth "It has become abundantly clear we have a pharmacy of drugs on our streets, ranging from heroin to cocaine to ecstasy and other chemical drugs and marijuana," he says. "With increased drug usage comes increased thefts, break and enters, robberies and prostitution." Failure to create a drug enforcement team and dedicated drug program will, "result in a rise in crime and addiction," adds Chief Clement. Rebound director Lynn Faris agrees with Chief Clement's assessment of Cobourg's drug culture and believes the establishment of a drug enforcement team is a definite need. "The Chief has been directly involved with our youth, making two presentations on drugs such marijuana and party drugs and marijuana grow operations," says Mrs. Faris. The creation of an auxiliary officer program would augment the regular police service in areas such as traffic and crowd control, manpower to co-ordinate search parties, community-based policing and general patrol in the company of a sworn police officer explains Chief Clement. Two Community Advisory Boards, one consisting of business and community leaders and the second with youth, is an initiative the Chief believes will help with focused enforcement responding to the community's safety concerns. "This will ensure the community is involved in determining objectives and priorities in the coming years," says Chief Clement. Chief Clement's other initiatives for 2004 are: * working with the Cobourg Police Service Board and Town politicians to ensure a policing model evolves which serves the best interests of the community * develop an action plan with Town Council to ensure suitable infrastructure exists for policing needs now and in the future * increased partnerships with private enterprise to conduct criminal record checks which will generate revenue to offset the cost of needed police equipment * depending on an increase of resources, implementation of traffic schools that will provide a viable enforcement option to drivers and officers * recommend the implementation of fortification bylaws and research pro-active approaches to deal with residential marijuana grow operations * institute a "no gang, no colours," program to deal with outlaw motorcycle gangs in Town establishments * work with Cobourg police volunteers to start a Merchants Against Money Laundering Program * seek opportunities to adopt community and police partnerships * finalize and implement Auto Vu, the Insurance Bureau of Canada stolen auto program, with Peterborough Lakefield Regional and Belleville police services. This program will help locate stolen vehicles through the automatic reading of license plates. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman