Pubdate: Mon, 03 Apr 2006 Source: Lindsay Daily Post (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Lindsay Daily Post Contact: http://www.thepost.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2333 Author: Jason Bain Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) HARD LINE ON DRUGS REMAINS Enforcement Has Benefits: Police Chief LINDSAY/OPS TWP. - A tougher stance against drugs means a spike in drug crime statistics which started last year will continue, says the local police chief. The number of drug charges began to rise last fall and City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service Chief John Hagarty said the trend will continue as police maintain their beefed-up approach to narcotics enforcement in Lindsay and the former Ops Township "We will continue to see higher numbers of drug charges," he said. The decision to make the battle against illicit drugs a priority resulted from his initial 90-day review of the service, Hagarty said, when staff told him more emphasis needed to be placed there. "It's important you listen to your front-line people," he said, noting the benefits of increased drug enforcement. They include a reduction in other crimes, such as break and enters, thefts, frauds and assaults over the long term, the chief said. "Because an addict hooked on cocaine, heroine or crystal methamphetamine will do anything to get that drug to support that habit," Hagarty said. "They need to commit crimes in order to get that next fix." And it's not just about laying charges, Hagarty said. Police also refer families to services in the community that will help them with their situation, he said. Enforcement by the service's uniformed officers, criminal investigations branch or the investigator assigned to the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit at the start of the year is not all there is to it, Hagarty said. "Public education is just as important," he said, noting the work of canine unit Const. Mike Stratford and Strike and community services officer Const. Tammy Brydon in educating youth about the perils of drugs in area schools. That recent approval to hire more officers from council and the police services board is a show of support towards the enforcement effort, Hagarty said, adding that as a police manager, it is difficult to reallocate resources. "Everyone in our community is expecting quality policing," he said. Having already seen the effect of crystal methamphetamine in his previous posting in Stratford, Hagarty said he was better able to help the local service get ready for its arrival. "I had the advantage of seeing it first hand and knew we'd better prepare for it here," he said Friday. The service made its first significant seizure of the highly-addictive drug in its jurisdiction on March 15. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom