Pubdate: Fri, 14 Apr 2006
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact: http://209.115.237.105/kelowna/publish/include/ 
letterToEditor.php
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Don Plant

POLICE HAVE HANDLE ON DOWNTOWN CRIME

KELOWNA -- Police have a handle on the downtown crime problem, but  
they're by no means winning, the force's top cop told a public  
meeting Thursday night.

The RCMP's downtown enforcement unit, extra foot patrollers and  
members of the drug unit worked well last summer, RCMP Supt. Bill  
McKinnon told a crowd of 100 people at The Grand hotel.

This year's addition of the RCMP Gator, a quad-style utility vehicle  
now patrolling beaches along the lakeshore, should also help. But  
McKinnon admitted police can't solve the issue on their own.

"I think we're managing it. I don't want to say we're winning. It  
changes weekly, it changes daily, depending on the weather."

Four officers dedicated to patrolling the downtown year-round will  
continue their work, he said, and bike patrollers are ready to roll.  
But McKinnon says he can't get new members in to bolster the force,  
even though the city has set aside money for them. Instead, the  
police must rely on overtime patrols and reservists to fill in.

"This is a community problem, not just an RCMP problem. We're looking  
for ideas and help from the public . . . to make this community and  
our downtown a safe place," he said.

Some media may be exaggerating the problem, McKinnon said. He'd have  
no problem taking his family for a walk through City Park. But he  
admits the situation is far from perfect, and he can't put an officer  
on every corner.

Police deal with a large number of addicts, many of them prolific  
offenders. Weeks after a sting that nabbed 41 suspected drug dealers  
last July, many of the same people were arrested again, McKinnon said.

The RCMP spends $14 million in tax revenue to police the Central  
Okanagan. With 133 officers, the ratio to civilians is less than one  
to 800, said city manager Ron Born.

Leslie, a manager with Kelly O'Bryan's Restaurant, told the panel  
she'd support a tax increase to have more police on patrol downtown.
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