Pubdate: Tue, 15 May 2007
Source: Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2179
Author: Ruth Saunders

CRU TAKES AIM AT GANGS

"Our strategies are focused to combat gang problems and violence
related to gangs " ~Sgt. Dennis Fraser, CRU team NCO

The signing of the Community Tripartite Agreement in Hobbema began a
new era leading to CRU.

The Community Response Unit is a pilot project initiated to combat
gang and drug issues in and around Hobbema.

"As a result, it injected 12 additional (RCMP) resources and three
public servants (into the detachment)," said Sgt. Dennis Fraser, the
officer in charge of the CRU team.

"All the CRU members are experienced with a range from three to 20
years (as an RCMP officer)."

The team has a three-pronged mandate to enforce, educate and build
community partnerships, although the team will also assist as an
intervening force when necessary.

"With any unit just starting, there are certainly growing pains," said
Fraser.

"There is a considerable amount of time spent training the officers
and making sure they have the proper courses. Some have just gotten
off general duty."

As well, Fraser explained it took more than six months for the team to
relocate to Hobbema.

"Members arrived in a staggered fashion after being released from
their respective detachments."

Enforcement is an important part of CRU.

"Our strategies are focused to combat gang problems and violence
related to gangs -- such as assault and drugs," said Fraser.

"A lot of our enforcement entails intelligence gathered from the
community."

The team is making progress in its education initiatives, making
presentations at schools. CRU members are also working as liaisons in
the schools in Hobbema.

The team is researching a gang member exit strategy -- part of the
community's quest to have its youth lead more productive lifestyles.

The team has also made headways into the partnership aspect of its
mandate. meeting and offering assistance to a variety of agencies in
Hobemma.

CRU works with the Samson Youth Development Centre, meets with
community elders and will play a role in the newly created Victim Services.

"Victim Services in its very preliminary stages. It has received
provincial approval, but it hasn't recruited advocates," said Fraser.

"It is an initiative which will be taken on by the three
nations."

CRU is also meeting and helping examine the tribal law/restorative
justice initiatives as well as the Maskwacis Justice Society.

One of the groups the team has become involved in is the monthly
meeting of the Maskwacis Consultative Group -- another initiative of
the tripartite agreement.

"This group, and its four members, works closely (with CRU). The MCG
is also made up of four members, one from each community."

The role of the MCG is to advise and make recommendations on
objectives, priorities, goals, strategies, special projects, and
assisting the community to address specific issues and concerns, as
well as identifying day-to-day policing issues and concerns and
seeking solutions with RCMP to community issues and concerns.

While CRU is still in its infancy stages, Fraser said the level of
co-operation with the community CRU has received is excellent.

"We've been embraced by the four bands -- including Louis
Bull."

The Community Tripartite Agreement (CTA) is an agreement set up
between the federal government, the provincial government and the
First Nations of Ermineskin, Montana and Samson Cree Nations for the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and First Nations Community Policing
Service.

"For the most part, the three communities have embraced the CTA as
well as the CRU team," said Fraser.

"We enjoy the support of the leadership (of the First Nations) as
well."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath