Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jun 2005
Source: Hanover Post, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thepost.on.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2612
Author: Lori Gillespie
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

HANOVER -- "What we know and what we can do are two separate issues." 
South Bruce OPP Constable John Kummer echoes the frustration of other 
area law enforcers, as he points out the problem with enforcing the 
law when it comes to methamphetamines. "We can have all the 
suspicions, but without the evidence, there's not much we can do."

The common refrain when talking about methamphetamines in local 
communities -- and across North America -- is this: What are the 
police doing about it?

The police are very aware of the problem locally, and are working 
hard to combat methamphetamines. But it's not easy. Hanover Police 
Chief Tracy David explains that unless the police know that a drug is 
in a residence, they can't do anything. What is needed is a search 
warrant. To get a search warrant requires sufficient evidence. And a 
warrant takes hours to get.

Brett Mailloux, unit commander with the OPP's drug enforcement 
section in the western region, explains that police can only operate 
within the confines of the law. "It's difficult to get arrest 
warrants and make arrests," he says. "It's not like other crimes, 
where a crime has occurred and you go and gather evidence. With 
drugs, you have to get the evidence by being there when the offence 
occurs. It's time consuming and it involves a lot of resources."

The sentencing for individuals charged with possession of 
methamphetamines is light, adds David. Possession is usually a fine, 
while a breach charge (breach of probation or conditions of release) 
carries more weight in the courts.

Mailloux says education is needed all around, from the police to 
parents and educators, to the courts. Mailloux often appears in court 
as an expert witness to educate the courts about the drug.

The evidence of methamphetamine use is in our communities. Police 
services have noted the increase in violence, break-and-enters, 
robberies, domestic violence and more. Kummer says there have been 
recent robberies involving meth in the area, and an increase in 
domestic disputes.

In fact, according to South Bruce OPP, so far this year, 150 people 
have been charged with criminal offences, and of those, 40 are 
suspected methamphetamine abusers.

Acting Detective Sergeant Chris Knoll, who works with the OPP Bruce 
County Crime Unit, says a couple of methamphetamine labs have been 
discovered locally in the past couple of years, including one in the 
trunk of a car and one in an apartment.

A meth lab was discovered in Teeswater last year, and two local 
people were charged.

Knoll and David both indicate an increase in possession charges and 
domestic violence, as well as assault with bodily harm. Car hopping 
has also been increasing -- that is, going from car to car at night, 
taking loose change. Good advice is for people to lock their cars, they say.

There have also been robbery offences this year, where perpetrators 
have gone into a house and demanded cash, Knoll says.

He points out that the bank robbery in Chesley at the beginning of 
this year came down to methamphetamines. "They needed money to get 
meth, it came out in the investigation," Knoll says. "There had been 
a previous robbery in Owen Sound, and the stolen vehicle was 
discovered, dumped in Allenford. When the robbery in Chesley 
happened, we sent officers to Allenford from Chesley, and found the 
stolen vehicle." The accused were found shortly after that, and were 
recently convicted in court.

"Robberies are out of the norm here, but we're seeing major break-ins 
and thefts, and we're finding that these individuals want stolen 
property to turn it into cash for meth," Knoll says. He adds that 
people arrested for vehicle thefts and break-ins have admitted, once 
caught, that they did it to get methamphetamines.

Education is the key -- education for the community and for the police.

"Police are becoming more knowledgeable about what to look for," 
Kummer says. That includes knowing the ingredients of 
methamphetamines. Pseudoephedrine, available over the counter in many 
cold medications, is a key ingredient in making methamphetamine. So 
is the lithium from batteries. A person found in possession of large 
quantities of either cold medication or batteries, while not illegal, 
is suspicious to police.

The drug culture makes it difficult to get enough information to make 
an arrest, Mailloux points out. "We need to educate the community so 
that they know when they see a crime committed, they must contact 
police. The biggest hurdle is getting information -- the user doesn't 
want to co-operate and turn in the supplier, because they won't be 
able to get more meth."

Says Mailloux, the community needs to be aware of the signs of 
illegal behaviour. "If neighbours see a lot of late-night activity or 
strange materials being taken in and out of a house, such as four or 
five propane tanks and they have no barbecue, or an excess amount of 
engine starter fluid, or cases of cold medication . . . also cases of 
lithium batteries, or pails filled with chemical contents around the 
property, and strong chemical smells . . . they need to call the 
police and report it."

As well, anyone who finds themselves in a violent situation with a 
person suspected of being under the influence of methamphetamines 
should call the police.

The solution, Mailloux says, is three-fold. First, education. 
Education of schools, medical staff, courts, emergency measures 
officers. Second is street level enforcement, catching users and 
small-time dealers. And third is the criminal organizations, taking 
down illegal networks for the distribution of methamphetamines, 
including manufacturers and smugglers.

The problem with methamphetamines is, indeed, affecting the 
community. "Any time drugs start to affect the community, it's a 
problem," Shaidle says. "This is not a problem that is unique to this area."

Adds Kummer: "The kids who are on meth are part of the community. 
Some people think it's an education problem, or an enforcement 
problem, or a parenting problem. We all have to deal with it together."
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MAP posted-by: Beth