Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jan 2005
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Marshall Jones, staff reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)

POLICE WILL TARGET DOWNTOWN CRIME

Kelowna RCMP will unveil today its most aggressive response to
downtown crime, bringing the full weight of detachment and city
resources to the problem.

Superintendent Bill McKinnon couldn't be more specific other than to
say there will be a more visible presence downtown, but that could be
two officers or a dozen.

He said a new squad, led by RCMP dog service officer Const. Willie
Hornseth, may include foot patrols, undercover street level officers,
plainclothes cops, dog teams.

"One way or the other we are going to take back the streets of Kelowna
for the people here to feel safe using all the legislation available
to us," McKinnon said.

The RCMP hadn't planned to ramp up its visible foot patrols until
March.

But a blast of warm weather and a new influx of transients downtown
has sped that up.

In recent days, downtown business owners have gotten more vocal about
complaints of intimidation, violence, drug use, prostitution and
uncleanliness downtown.

McKinnon said he wasn't under pressure from City Hall or others to do
something but is acutely aware of the problem.

He meets this week with others dedicated to safe streets including
bylaw officers, parks employees, the Downtown Kelowna Association,
mental health workers, Crown Counsel and downtown patrollers.

They will all take part in a workshop identifying various legislation
from the Safe Streets Act to the Criminal Code and the rights of
homeless citizens to determine just what can be done within the
confines of the law.

They will also discuss resources available and what each group can
offer.

He said they will target open drug dealing, aggressive panhandlers and
people who set up camps on the streets, which is illegal. He is urging
his officers to pursue any and all crimes.

"Our response will be different each and every day of the week
depending on availability of our resources and the availability of
other organizations but I guarantee we will have a presence because we
need to make the streets safe." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake