Pubdate: Wed, 04 Apr 2007
Source: Metro ( Edmonton, CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Free Daily News Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/archive.aspx?pdfCity=edmonton
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4475

DRUG DENS ON POLICE HIT LIST

Edmonton Force Considers Expansion of South-Side's Drug-Busting Program

The in-your-face antics of an Edmonton police detective have stirred 
up criticism over his unconventional drug house busting tactics, but 
his results have been so successful police are now considering 
expanding the program city-wide.

Const. Maurice Brodeur has headed up the 'Report a Drug House' 
initiative on the city's south side since police realized, he says, 
that traditional law enforcement couldn't put a dent in the 
proliferation of city drug dens.

"The normal way wasn't working," he told Metro yesterday. "Why do the 
courts need to be the core of policing solutions? The fact is, they 
don't. There was another way."

Rather than going after the drugs and issuing search warrants -- 
which is labour-intensive and involves a court system plagued with 
long delays -- Brodeur works with other departments to harass 
suspected dealers so badly that they either cease operations or move 
out of town, he says.

Fines are issued for uninsured cars, unlicensed pets, noisy parties 
and snow-covered sidewalks. Brodeur even calls city health inspectors 
to have them issue cleanup orders and condemn properties. He's called 
landlords to assist in forcing evictions or getting the fire 
department to make fire code inspections and often introduces himself 
to suspected drug dealers as their "harassment officer" -- but always 
with a smile, he says, chuckling.

"They're not the big bad drugs houses that you see in the movies," he 
explains, noting most dealers, however, seem to have a movie poster 
of Scarface on the wall and a pit bull in the yard.

"I call them mosquito homes. There's a lot of activity, they're 
humming all night, and you can't sleep."

To date, Brodeur has investigated 186 tips on suspected drug houses 
made to police. In nine months, 51 drug dens were shut down employing 
his tactics and neighbours have applauded the results.

If a drug dealer simply moves and sets up shop in another home, 
Brodeur knocks on their new door and starts making their life 
miserable all over again.

"They remember me and know the drill," he says.

While Edmonton is considering a city-wide implementation and Grande 
Prairie Police will run a trial program in May, the unconventional 
tactics have faced criticism from some in the legal community who 
suggest such tactics could be considered unconstitutional and illegal.

Steven Penney, a legal expert at the University of Alberta, says 
Brodeur's methods could be a form of abusive process since citizens 
are so heavily singled out and harassed.

"That's a very difficult lawsuit to actually win, however, since 
courts tend to give broad latitude to police and prosecutors and 
perhaps the targets of these initiatives wouldn't be too motivated to 
(sue) because it may reveal their own criminal activity," he says.

Brodeur, meanwhile, denies anything he does is illegal and notes that 
external police forces in Wetaskiwin and Drayton Valley have actually 
expressed interest in running the program as well.
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