Pubdate: Mon, 30 May 2005
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Gwendolyn Richards, Calgary Herald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

RURAL ALBERTAN BAND TOGETHER TO BATTLE GROWING DRUG TRADE

Communities across southern Alberta are joined by little more than the
arterial highways that lace the rolling hills and fields.

But increasingly, these towns are also linked by their efforts to
clamp down on the burgeoning crack and cocaine markets that have
infiltrated rural Alberta.

Municipal police forces and RCMP detachments have been co-ordinating
their investigations as traffickers set up borderless operations that
span several communities.

Don Weisbeck has watched Brooks mushroom from a small town to one
considering incorporating as a city in the seven years he has served
as mayor. He has also seen the crack and cocaine problem balloon and,
with it, the crimes that radiate from these drugs.

According to an annual report released Wednesday by the Criminal
Intelligence Service Alberta, RCMP officers in Brooks saw a 350 per
cent increase in cocaine possession last year.

Cases of break and enter comprised the largest increase in the last
several years, and that's all related to drugs, Weisbeck said.

"They have to finance a very expensive habit. When you're an addict,
you're very desperate," he said.

Last November, one convenience store was robbed four times. Employee
Ariel Fitzpatrick believes drugs were a motivating factor and they are
a problem in the town.

"I don't want Emma to grow up around it," she said holding her
10-month-old daughter to her chest.

But the problem isn't limited to this green pocket along the
Trans-Canada highway.

About 100 kilometres south in Taber, the past two years have seen a
marked increase in crimes associated with the sale and distribution of
crack.

Taber Police Service Insp. Graham Abela said police have seen
home-invasion-style offences, grocery store robberies and reports of
violence.

But the town of 8,000 is being touted as a community to watch when it
comes to its active approach in dealing with drugs and the associated
crimes.

Police officers are trying to prevent illegal activity by tackling its
root cause, Abela said.

They have made arrangements to get addicts into treatment programs
when they come seeking help to the detachment, which is open 24 hours.

Abela calls it "crime prevention through social development."

"They want the drug and they'll do anything to get it," he explained.
"If we can get in there and break that habit, we will do that."

Residents said the drug problem is apparent, but not out of
control.

"It's not like you hear about in the big cities where you go to the
can and guys are doing lines of coke on the back of the toilet," said
Rob Easthope.

Some were only aware of it because of publicity around a recent big
bust undertaken by Taber police in conjunction with neighbouring forces.

"It's made an impression," said resident Dennis Carlson.

But Abela said drugs are a community issue, so the community has to be
a partner in dealing with it.

"The 13 officers in the Taber police service can't solve this alone,"
he said.

The town formed Taber Community Against Drugs -- a group designed to
heighten awareness about the problem -- two years ago as the cocaine
problem was developing.

Mayor Ray Bryant said the group is also a way of letting people know
the community is not going to accept drug activity.

"We just want people to take notice we're not going to stand by and
let things get worse," he said.

Resident Tina Gregus, who is raising four stepchildren with her
husband, said cocaine and crack are a concern, but she believes it's
not up to the police alone to control the drug problem.

"You've got to take an active role," she said.

Last week, Gregus attended one of group's "lunch 'n' learn" seminars.
It covered methamphetamine production and included information about
the drug's common ingredients, such as cold remedies and chemicals.

The session was designed to warn business owners to keep an eye out
for mass purchasing of meth components and to report anything suspicious.

Gregus said the seminar opened her eyes and she was able to take the
information back to co-workers to pass it along to help the effort.

"Intervention is the best thing," she said.

But Taber may have another advantage in the war on
drugs.

As a small organization, the force can more easily put its finger on
the pulse of the community, Abela said.

And, since the municipal police are responsible to a police commission
made up of community members, the force gets direct input from
residents, he said.

"We can set our strategic direction more easily," he
added.

In Brooks, the town is looking at taking a different approach as well,
including examining possible changes to bylaws that would give them
better access to residences and businesses for fire and safety
purposes instead of waiting for seizure warrants.

Weisbeck has no illusions their efforts will eliminate the problem.
But he believes it will lessen the impact that crack, cocaine and the
ripple-effect crimes that spring from these drugs have on his town.

"Dealers get very uncomfortable when a community gets proactive," he
said. "We intend to make their lives very, very uncomfortable."

The town has created a task force, made up of community members, that
has been focusing on education and awareness programs. It's also set
up Crime Stoppers in the community to give people a way of reporting
on these crimes.

The local RCMP detachment is coming up with measures of its own,
dedicating two members to gather intelligence and investigate and
enforce drug activity.

Cpl. Gary Zielke said getting rid of the drug problem would eliminate
a lot of property crime and free up officers.

"The time that is expended on this effort with drugs could be better
served somewhere else," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake