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