Impaired driving is never limited to those who drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Now, after changes to provincial legislation, officers are trained as experts in testing differences between the effects of various substances. "We're talking about prescription drugs, too," noted Olaf Heinzel, public affairs coordinator with the Waterloo regional police. "Our drug recognition experts have to have training in a variety of other substances than alcohol." All officers are trained to recognize signs of impairment - based on many categories of drugs - but only a handful of regional police officers are trained as experts in testing, noted Heinzel. [continues 324 words]
Former Drug Addict And Convict Talks Straight With Kids About Drugs Being offered pot and "angel dust" is something elementary school students face in Cambridge. Before school, at lunchtime, after school: kids are being asked if they want to get high. "It's intimidating, actually," says one 13-year-old girl who goes to Stewart Avenue Public School. She, who is not being named for privacy reasons, was at her school on Wednesday night to hear some honest truths about the world of drugs and gangs, and crimes that go hand-in-hand with both. [continues 662 words]
Fighting drug crime is expected to be more efficient with the creation of a new policing division in Waterloo Region, according to police Chief Matt Torigian. Approved recently by the police services board, the Waterloo Regional Police drug branch, the intelligence branch, and the Special Response Unit will be brought together into one building. "It's keeping pace with the dynamic changes we see in our community," said Torigian. "It is a significant change." It is expected the new division will be based at police headquarters - where a current renovation expansion is ongoing - on Maple Grove Road, said the chief, which means a new facility will not have to be built for the new division. [continues 165 words]
Fighting drug crime is expected to be more efficient with the creation of a new policing division in Waterloo Region, according to Chief Matt Torigian. Approved yesterday by the police services board, the Waterloo Regional Police drug branch, the intelligence branch, and the Special Response Unit will be brought together into one building. "It's keeping pace with the dynamic changes we see in our community," said Torigian. "It is a significant change." It is expected the new division will be based at police headquarters - where a current renovation expansion is ongoing - on Maple Grove Road, said the chief, which means a new facility will not have to be built for the new division. [continues 165 words]
Possession and trafficking offences increase across Waterloo Region Drug crimes are up by 31 per cent in Waterloo Region, but the chief of police says he's confident ongoing partnerships and community relationships will bring that percentage down. "Drugs very often is at the root cause of crime," said Waterloo Regional Police Chief Matt Torigian after yesterday's regular police services board meeting at the Maple Grove Road headquarters. In 2007, there were more than 1,400 drug offences in Waterloo Region. Offences related to marijuana possession increased to 855 from 678 offences in 2006. Cocaine possession offences increased to 224 from 173 in 2006. Trafficking offences related to both substances also increased. [continues 310 words]
Policing Priorities Have Changed In The Eyes Of Waterloo Region Residents. Cracking down on drugs should be the service's number one focus, according to the 2007 citizen survey results. In 2003, cracking down on speeding and aggressive driving was the top priority for residents. Now, citizens have ranked speeding and aggressive driving as the third priority - in 2003, cracking down on graffiti was number three. Overall, the survey results are "encouraging", said Insp. Bryan Larkin, executive officer to the chief, who presented a brief outline of the survey results during Wednesday's regular Waterloo Regional Police Services Board meeting. He also said there is always room for improvement. [continues 285 words]
Provincial funding targeted at gangs, guns, and grow ops is welcomed news for Waterloo Regional Police. "It's a significant contribution...and it allows us to network with other services," said media relations and executive officer Bryan Larkin, of the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). Wednesday's annoucement by Ontario's Premier Dalton McGuinty will assist local police services to target gangs, guns, marijuana grow operations and other criminal activities. The McGuinty government is investing $6.3 million to expand an anti-guns and gangs and anti-violence intervention program to several communities outside of Toronto, including Waterloo Region. [continues 192 words]
