Pubdate: Fri, 03 Jun 2005
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Rob Granatstein, City Hall Bureau	
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TOP COP PLANS TO SHARE A CHOPPER

'I Can Get The Job Done'

FORMER TORONTO Police Chief Julian Fantino always wanted a helicopter.

New Police Chief Bill Blair has a plan to get one.

Toronto Police are working on a formal "mutual service agreement" with 
Durham and York Regional Police to use those forces' helicopters on more 
than just an emergency basis, Blair told the Toronto Sun editorial board 
yesterday.

"I believe I require the services of a helicopter," Blair said.

The chief said buying a chopper for Toronto would cost more than $2 million 
a year, so he's working on a sharing agreement.

"The equipment exists and if I can acquire it from them and pay for it on a 
cost-recovery basis, it's good for them, it's good for me and I can get the 
job done," he said. "The only thing I don't get is my own helicopter with 
my own logo on it."

Sharing a helicopter has been backed by the city's auditor general.

USED ON AD HOC BASIS

Right now, Toronto uses the helicopters on an ad hoc basis for missing 
kids, missing seniors and suspects on the loose, if one is available, Blair 
said. There is no formal agreement.

With a formal agreement, the helicopter could be used for non-emergency 
purposes, such as hunting for marijuana grow operations.

York Chief Armand La Barge said discussions with Toronto are in the 
preliminary stages. If Toronto uses the York chopper now, either a bill is 
issued or an in-kind service is provided, he said, and the first priority 
is always York.

But Blair said if he had more money, his first priority would be getting 
more police officers on Toronto's streets.

Blair covered dozens of topics at the editorial board meeting, including:

- - The drug crystal meth: The chief compared the burgeoning problem to crack 
cocaine in 1986 that devastated entire neighbourhoods.

- - Marijuana: One-third of drug enforcement time is tied up on grow-house 
operations, while ambiguity about laws is causing confusion.
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