Pubdate: Tue, 13 Nov 2007
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kent Spencer, The Province

PARENTS AT HOPE SECONDARY TO VIDEOTAPE DRUG DEALERS

Moms, Dads Of Students Taking Drugs Vow 'Vigilante Justice'

Parents of doped-out students at Hope Secondary School say they'll use
"vigilante justice" to combat drug dealers.

"We're going to videotape drug dealers across the street from the
school," parent Jeff Holgate said yesterday.

"It's vigilante justice, but parents are powerless. B.C. judges and
politicians need to get on board. I have no faith in our justice system.

"The cops are doing everything they can, arresting guys day after day.
The dealers think it's a joke."

Parents in the town of 6,200 say they're planning more than
in-your-face tactics with dealers.

Terry Vickerman said he knows of plans to post lists of offenders on
street poles all over town.

The lists will include those convicted of trafficking, defence lawyers
and names of judges who have "let defendants off on
technicalities."

Vickerman said one "obnoxious" defence lawyer was not pleased to hear
about the plan.

"He told me I'd be putting his client at risk. I told him hundreds of
kids are being lost and families torn apart. Somebody has to do something."

Holgate said his son took up smoking marijuana last year in Grade 9.
The signs, he said, were slow to become apparent: failing grades, late
nights and moodiness.

Mother Missy Holgate puts her son's fall from grace down to hanging
out with the wrong crowd.

"He was busted in between classes. His eyes were glazed and he stank.
The $5 joint was bought out of a student's locker," she said.

Holgate wants police dogs sniffing out dope in the school and stiff
sentences for dealers.

"As long as the legal penalties aren't there, we're hooped," she said.
"I'm scared. I don't want to lose my son because some jerk is giving
him drugs."

Vickerman said his 18-year-old daughter suffered a stroke after being
"forced" to take highly concentrated cocaine.

"She was told, if this ever happened again, she'd be dead or a
quadriplegic," said Vickerman. "The problem includes crystal meth,
too."

Chuck Lawson, principal at 460-student Hope Secondary, said drug use
has "spiked" this year after a five-year decline.

"It can be disappointing. Different waves of students come into the
school," Lawson said.

The school's strategy involves restorative justice, emphasizing
dialogue with victims and wrong-doers.

Spot checks are made on lockers. Dealers are expelled.

"If a dealer is identified, we work with the RCMP to make sure he is
not in the area," Lawson said. "A lot of attention is paid in the
curriculum. The key is to educate kids to make wise decisions. Most of
them are wonderful."

Lawson said he does not condone videotaping deals or posting lists of
offenders.

Drug deals, he added, may be taking place off the school
grounds.

"We do the best we can with our supervision. There's a chance that
[drug deals] are happening," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek