Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 Source: Lindsay This Week (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Lindsay This Week Contact: http://www.lindsaythisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2213 Author: Mary Riley Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) POLICE IN LINDSAY AND OPS ON BOARD WITH KAWARTHA COMBINED FORCES DRUG UNIT Officers and civilians alike have described Kawartha Lakes Police Chief John Hagarty as "a breath of fresh air." At the Chamber of Commerce business lunch on Jan. 18, he was more like a strong wind - of change. Chief Hagarty told his audience to be prepared to see a higher profile of drug enforcement in the media, now that an officer from the Kawartha Lakes Police Service has been assigned to work with the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit. The move means drug enforcement in the Kawartha Lakes Police jurisdiction will be much more aggressive, the chief said. "We joined the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit as of Jan. 1, and we are going to be much more proactive [in drug enforcement]. Previously, we were simply reactive." The unit is made up of officers from several jurisdictions, who work together exclusively investigating drug crimes in Central Ontario. Chief Hagarty explained that in his previous posting in Stratford, the abuse and manufacture of methamphetamine was one of the top drug problems facing police. He told his audience in no uncertain terms that (crack) cocaine is the problem here, much more prevalent on the streets than it was a few years ago. The chief said that because the potential exists for considerable population growth in the city, proactive police work, especially relating to drugs, is a priority. He insisted he wasn't trying to be "all doom and gloom". But he maintained that targeting the problem of drugs will reduce the escalating break-ins that have impacted the community in recent years. Detective Constable Terry Cox said officers already working drug-related crimes are pleased with the changes. "It's just great, and we certainly welcome it," he said. "The chief is extremely proactive about drug enforcement. He has very strong feelings about going after drug crime. It's much more proactive than reactive." Like his superior officer, Det/Const. Cox said eradicating drugs in a community means taking a "very aggressive approach." He said that along with cocaine, police are seeing an increase in crystal meth in the Lindsay area. "But one thing is for sure, aggressively enforcing drug crimes means reducing other crimes that directly relate to them." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom