Pubdate: Mon, 17 Oct 2005
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592
Author: Mia Thomas, staff reporter

RESIDENTS ORGANIZE FORUM TO FIGHT CRIME

Home isn't what it once was, say residents living along the western half of 
the Kingsway corridor.

"I've noticed changes in the last six years," said Reg Rumley, a resident 
of the Gilley area who has lived there for a dozen years.

Drug dealers and prostitutes seem to be busier than ever in the 
neighbourhood, according to Rumley.

He's part of a group that's organizing a crime-fighting forum, Building Our 
Community, for next week with the idea of tackling the issues behind the 
problems that plague their neighbourhood and eventually putting together a 
Kingsway Imperial neighbourhood association.

One of the organizers said they're taking the challenges of the sex trade 
and drug dealers and turning it into an opportunity to build a stronger, 
safer neighbourhood.

The community-based approach will hopefully find solutions rather than send 
the problems into another area.

Rumley was one of the few residents willing to go on the record for the 
article because he lives in a larger complex with security and gates that 
give him a greater measure of protection.

Others, who live in single-family homes, claim to be too concerned about 
retaliation from the prostitutes, pimps and drug dealers who, apparently, 
know them by sight.

Rumley is in charge of the common areas of the strata, which has secured 
underground parking for residents but four or five outside the gates for 
visitors.

"More or less, that's where the activity is going on, has been going on," 
Rumley said. "Where they come down and sit in the corner and shoot up or 
whatever."

He has seen cars drive down to the visitors' parking spot and meet for a 
quick exchange of cash and drugs.

Lately, residents have started working more closely with police, 
particularly those with the southwest community policing office, and 
they've seen a difference.

"They've done a tremendous job," Rumley said. "In the last four months, 
I've seen only one girl (in the underground parking)."

Staff Sgt. Dale Quinton, the officer in charge of the Burnaby RCMP's 
southwest sub-office, agrees the district's crime rate has improved.

It comes down to everyone working together for a change, Quinton said, 
including the added presence of 12 police officers and involvement from 
other partners in the community, from the SkyTrain police, Metrotown 
security, the city, local residents and the police bicycle patrol.

Quinton said that, although the forum isn't a police event, he will be 
speaking to those attending about safety and crime prevention.

A safe community can be achieved through a number of means, including 
removing graffiti promptly, keeping properties tidy or fixing broken 
streetlights.

"These sort of things make your neighbourhood a nicer place to live," 
Quinton said.

The forum will include displays and information from Mayor Derek Corrigan, 
the RCMP, Business Watch and Block Watch.

The forum is planned for Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Initially supposed to take place at a local school, the location has been 
moved to the Central Christian Assembly, which is at 5855 Imperial St., the 
corner of Imperial Street and Kingsway. There will be child care provided 
at the church's nursery, with local teenagers looking after children.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom