Pubdate: Mon, 28 Sep 2015
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Matt Day
Page: 6

FIGHTING CRIME ON A BUDGET

Need more troops but city is safe, Ottawa's top cop says

Ottawa's top cop said he needs more officers and resources, but
insists Ottawa is a safe city - even the area that has seen two teens
fatally stabbed in the past five months.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Ottawa Sun, Charles Bordeleau
opened up about his past 31/2 years as head of the force, and
discussed the challenges of policing the capital.

"We recognize that there are limits and we have to operate in that
restraint," he said.

Among his concerns: A lack of resources in the guns and gangs unit and
to combat violence against women, he said, forces personnel shifts.

Bordeleau, who has been chief since March 2012, said that when he's
not busy at work, he'll try to find time to run on one of Ottawa's
many trails, or spend time at a family cottage. But down time is a
rarity.

A recent public survey shows 90% of Ottawa residents feel safe in
their neighbourhood during the day and that 82% of respondents say
they are satisfied with the city's police.

"The men and women we have are second to none," he said of his
force.

What follows are some of the issues he discussed:

TROUBLED YOUTH

Bordeleau said the Jasmin Cres. area is a "safe community" despite two
fatal stabbings: 17-year-old Issaiah Clachar was killed last week and
18-year-old Connor Stevenson on April 14.

He called each death a "tragedy". Police believe both homicides are
linked to drug activity, but aren't gang related.

"We're trying to identify youth at the earliest possibility - ones
showing tendencies for criminal activity, targeting siblings of known
gang members - to persuade them off that path," he said. "Even some in
gangs want out, but don't know how and they fear the dangers of doing
so."

He said there is money and programs available to those who have
potential to leave the thug life, while others simply belong in jail.

RESOURCES

Bordeleau said an increase in officers is needed.

"We haven't grown the police service in six years," he
said.

That's why for the 2016 budget submission, Ottawa police will be
requesting 25 new cops and assign some to the guns and gangs unit.

Police increased that unit last year to deal with an increase in
shootings, and Bordeleau said that strategy worked.

"I think the number of shootings has stabilized and the violence
associated with that activity, we feel, is not at last year's level,"
he said about why officers were reallocated earlier this year to other
divisions.

HOMICIDE RATE

Over the past five years, an average of 10 people are murdered in
Ottawa each year. Sunday morning's stabbing elevated this year's total
to six, putting it on track with past years.

There were 49 gang shootings last year, but Bordeleau said Ottawa's
"crime severity index" is low compared to other cities.

He referenced Chicago, which once had 49 shootings in one weekend
alone this May.

"It's different, but Ottawa is a very safe city and the homicides we
have aren't random, they are targeted."

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION?

Bordeleau said he sides with police chiefs across Canada and doesn't
support legalization of marijuana, but that he does support
decriminalization.

Justin Trudeau's Liberals support the idea of legalization, and Tom
Mulcair's NDP have vowed they would look to decriminalize it. With the
polls tight before the Oct. 19 election, Bordeleau said police are
prepared to adapt.

"Right now, we seize it, destroy it, and there's no consequence to the
person. It costs the system too much money to send these people to
court," he said.

Bordeleau said he would like to see police be able to issue a ticket
without someone getting a criminal record.

LAST WEEK'S TRIPLE HOMICIDE

"There's no question I'm very proud of the work that our officers
did," Bordeleau saaid, referencing the arrest of Basil Borutski in
Ottawa, who faces charges of murdering three women in communities west
of the capital Monday morning.

"We used technology to find the individual, contained him, negotiated
and effected an arrest without anyone else getting hurt," Bordeleau
said.

He said it's "tragic" three women were killed.

One of Bordeleau's top priorities since becoming chief of police in
2012 is cracking down on violence against women.
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MAP posted-by: Matt