Pubdate: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 Source: Amherst Daily News (CN NS) Page: 2 Copyright: Amherst Daily News 2007 Contact: http://www.amherstdaily.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3379 Author: Sam McNeish Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) OXFORD WELCOMING ADDITION OF NEW RCMP OFFICER OXFORD - Oxford Council has embraced the addition of another RCMP officer for the community under Justice Minister Murray Scott's Safer Streets initiative for the province. Council will bring this plan to its February meeting to approve support of the additional officer. "We really need to take the officer and use it for what was suggested or we won't get one," Coun. Wade Adshade said. The new position will see a three-man investigation unit formed for Cumberland County. This comes as a welcome addition for Cpl. Joe Ryan of the Cumberland Detachment, Oxford office. "It's a great benefit for everyone. Us here in Oxford, Springhill and elsewhere," he told council at the committee of the whole meeting. "There is always plenty for us to do here and we can now spend time on projects we normally don't have the manpower to do," he added. As an example, Ryan said if someone in the county was growing 500 marijuana plants, it would be naive to think that person wouldn't be selling all over the county. As it stands today, there aren't enough resources to investigate projects like this in the manner they deserve. He said if this unit had been available years ago, it would have been a great benefit for everyone. The Town of Oxford will pay the cost of this additional officer. No amount is available at this time. In addition, a data entry person has been added to the staff at the Oxford office, a move Ryan sees as streamlining everyone's job and maximizing efficiency for each of his officers. "With this new (six-month position) person starting today (Monday), it frees up time to get out on the streets more," he added. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom