Pubdate: Fri, 18 May 2007 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2007 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Kristen Harding LETHBRIDGE A LEADER IN ALTERNATIVE MEASURES While the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police is calling for more resources to assist individuals with substance abuse and mental health issues who repeatedly come in contact with the law, locally a number of measures are already in place to help break the cycle. "I'm pleased to say that actually in Lethbridge we've taken action on some of these (resolutions) already," said Lethbridge regional police chief Tom McKenzie. "A good example would be our Community Substance Abuse Reduction Team" which promotes education and awareness around substance abuse and works to reduce the harm that results. In addition, McKenzie pointed out the city's Mental Health and FASD Diversion programs are leading the way to provide assistance and alternative measures for affected individuals who enter the criminal justice system. "Lethbridge is out in front and running," he said. Edmonton police chief Michael Boyd, president of the AACP, welcomes the implementation of similar programs in other communities and says a greater emphasis on getting help to those who need it is critical to reducing criminal victimization. "Contrary to what a lot of people think, the police chiefs of Alberta do not want to see everyone go to jail.We know from our experience that many people are locked into this cycle and it's tied to their own dependency," he said. "The justice system needs to change in order to help people that we know are locked into that cycle of committing crime to get money to buy the drugs to feed the habit. We know the system needs to be able to stream people into those services if we're going to stop the cycle." Boyd was in Lethbridge this week, along with other chiefs and high-ranking officers, for the AACP's annual spring conference which gives members an opportunity to discuss present and future policing concerns and devise solutions. Boyd says recruitment and retention problems are the No. 1 issues facing police services in Alberta and across the country and more government support is needed to help agencies create viable strategies. McKenzie echoed those sentiments, pointing out while the loss of senior officers definitely leaves a gap in experience, it's also an opportunity for growth and the addition of new talent -- the difficulty is finding a balance. The AACP is also urging the government to proclaim the Mandatory Testing and Disclosure Act, which would provide police and other emergency responders who get stuck with needles, spit on or exposed in other ways to bodily fluids, to have the blood of the individual responsible tested for communicable diseases. "We believe it is critical and it's getting more common all the time because more people are intravenous drug users (and) there's more people with infectious diseases," said Boyd. McKenzie added hepatitis is a great concern for front-line officers working on the streets and, while an individual's privacy is important, exposing law enforcers to potentially career- and life-ending diseases crosses the line. "You spend a number of months really, really worried, not only for you but your family and others you come in contact with," said McKenzie, noting he's gone through the experience. "To have somebody that can hide behind their illness and not have to disclose it is a concern for us." In addition, the AACP is hoping the province will address personnel shortages within the Law Enforcement Review Board to help streamline the process for both police officers and complainants. The AACP would also like to see more services to support young people, a greater emphasis on restorative justice and prisoner transfer duties returned to the province. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath