Pubdate: Fri, 15 May 2009
Source: Yellowknifer (CN NT)
Copyright: 2009 Yellowknifer
Contact:  http://www.nnsl.com/yellowknifer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4270
Note: Please specify Yellowknifer as source

RCMP MUST ACT FASTER

Yellowknife RCMP have prided themselves on being tough on drugs. With 
that in mind, the slow response from the police earlier this month 
after a Frame Lake resident reported 97 suspicious baggies littering 
neighbourhood yards is nothing short of discouraging.

The suggestion from a dispatcher and a staff sergeant that police 
officers were too busy to show up, especially given it was Super 
Soccer weekend, isn't adequate.

Building confidence in its police force is essential to a strong 
community, which in this case has been dealt a blow, at least for the 
Frame Lake woman who said she feels she was "blown off" by the RCMP. 
Most police officers are hard working, dedicated professionals. They 
should be given credit for creating early awareness around the 
dangerous drug ecstasy, blamed for the deaths of a few teens in 
Alberta in recent months. Recognizing that drugs which are a problem 
in Alberta often find their way to the NWT, police were quick to get 
the word out to the public here last week.

So they have a handle on the "proactive" part, which the RCMP likes 
to emphasize. Now they have to improve on the responsive end. The 
next time a call is made about suspected drug paraphernalia, it 
shouldn't take two days to get a response.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom