Pubdate: Fri, 19 May 2006
Source: Spruce Grove Examiner, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 The Grove Examiner
Contact:  http://www.sprucegroveexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1842
Author: Trevor Miller

DRUG SQUAD ESTABLISHED

Drug use is growing, and four partners have come together to combat 
the problem in the tri-municipal area.

Parkland County, the City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain 
and the provincial RCMP have each provided one person to a new 
four-member drug squad. Each partner has budgeted for funding one of 
the RCMP officers, whose roles will be to investigate and reduce 
organized crime and drug trafficking and operations in the region.

"This is the first time we've had an opportunity to sit down and say, 
'Okay, we recognize we have a problem,'" said Ken Scott, mayor of 
Spruce Grove. He further praised Parkland County for its involvement 
in the squad, saying it's the "first county in Alberta to step 
forward and pay for an officer," adding that "there aren't any 
boundaries for drugs."

The problems were highlighted during this past year, when two 
separate 21-day drug investigation projects were held. Called Klean 
Sweep One and Two, the operations resulted in 86 charges laid against 
30 individuals, said Inspector Wade Blake, officer in charge of the 
Spruce Grove/Stony Plain detachments.

"If nothing is done, it (the use and trafficking of illegal 
substances) will increase," he said. "People dealing will go to the 
place with the least resistance."Blake feels this drug unit will give 
his detachments the ability to fight against drugs in the area.

"With all that we are doing, we didn't have the resources to deal 
with the drug issue," he said. "Now, with this unit, we do. That is 
what they will exclusively be doing - dealing with the drug issue."

A tri-municipal drug strategy team was also established, made up of 
volunteers from the three communities. The team is looking into ways 
to bring awareness of the problem to the residents, as well as ideas 
and strategies to reduce drug abuse in the area.

The police drug squad will be focusing on the distribution of crack 
cocaine, marijuana and crystal meth, as well as other controlled 
drugs and substances.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman