TANNER PROUD OF HIS FORCE

More than a century ago, the keepers of the peace in the city were
viewed a little differently than they are today.

According to a published account in 1878, which can be found in the
Historical Atlas of Hastings County, while the Belleville police
force was "quite efficient and well officered," the head of the
department held a position like no other in the town.

"Hugh McKinnon, a name which strikes terror into the hearts of
evil-doers, is chief," according to the breathless prose in the
account of the day.

Reading over the description after the passage of more than 130
years, Belleville's current police chief chuckled.

"Well, I don't think the name Steve Tanner strikes terror in
anybody's heart," Tanner said with a smile. "But I do believe the
men and women of this department are still quite efficient and doing
an exceptional job in this city."

And he has the numbers to prove it.

Overall, crime across the city has dropped again during 2007 - a
trend Tanner directly links to the work of uniformed members of the
department's platoons and an unwavering focus on drug enforcement
through initiatives such as Project Longarm.

By October, officers working with the local co-operative enforcement
effort seized just under $14 million in drugs and another $152,000 in
cash, "which obviously shows that (drug) issue is alive and operating
in this area - as it is everywhere," he said.

Then, in mid-October, officers hit the proverbial jackpot with a
major marijuana bust just north of the city: Longarm officers seized
almost 10,000 marijuana plants worth approximately $10 million,
cellphones and drug growing paraphernalia along with a 9-mm handgun
as part of an investigation.

During the same probe, 460 kg of processed high-grade marijuana bud,
worth approximately $9.2 million, was seized at a "processing plant"
set up inside a home on Cross Road in Tyendinaga Township.

Drug statistics are driven by enforcement, Tanner said, "so if you
don't do enforcement, it's easy to say you don't have a drug problem.
But, if you put the resources into it, you get to see the real picture."

Big city issues, such as drugs and gun problems combined with the
presence of some gangs, continued to wash up on the shores of Belleville.

"It's not just us - the trend can be seen across the country - but
when we kick in doors at drug raids we are finding more guns and
knives," said Insp. Mike Graham, who heads the Project Longarm team
for the city police service.

Many of those who arm themselves aren't necessarily possessing the
weapons to combat police, he said.

"Quite simply, they're afraid of getting ripped off by other drug
dealers ... so for police, it's kind of a double jeopardy, people
don't know if it's a cop or a bad guy coming into their place.

"And we're finding many of the outdoor marijuana growing operations
are booby-trapped now and some have alarms," Graham said.

"We're seeing the presence of street gangs from Toronto here and the
same people are showing up in Kingston. I guess it's the price we pay
for being along the (Highway) 401."

Looking at crime trends across the municipality, Tanner said he is
"very happy, particularly with the impact we've seen in the areas of
break-and-enters over the past few years."

For example, the city hit a high of 653 reported break-ins in 2005, a
number that dropped by a third to 461 the following year.

When the final tally is in for 2007, the number is expected to be
around the 450 mark, he said.

"And you have to remember that not all break-and-enters are involving
a perpetrator entering someone's private residence - in fact, a large
percentage of those are break-ins to outbuildings, such as garages or
sheds," he said.

"So it's still technically a break-and-enter, but I don't think you
have such an invasion of private space that you would if someone was
entering your home."

During the past year, the most serious incident the department dealt
with was what is believed to be a drug-related shooting along North
Park Street in January involving Toronto residents living in the city, he said.

Two people were arrested for their connection to the incident less
than a month later and are still before the courts on a litany of charges.

"And that case highlights an issue - a lot of our issues, especially
those relating to drugs, are not home-grown. We certainly are
impacted by being along the (Highway) 401 and our proximity to
Toronto and other major cities."

Tanner's observations are reflected in a 2005 study by Belleville
police that found about 40 per cent of the criminal element officers
dealt with throughout the course of the year were from outside the city.

Within the service, 2007 was a year of transition: the chain of
command changed dramatically with the establishment of two inspectors
to "more effectively divide up the workload and expertise within the
service," Tanner said.

Now, under Tanner is Deputy Chief Brian Harder followed by inspectors
Graham and Paul Vandegraaf.

"It solidifies our senior command - there is a very strong chain of
management in place now that has an exceptional amount of experience."

The move also helps police to "take on some issues that have been
difficult to focus on in the past," noted Insp. Graham, who is taking
a particular interest in issues facing the downtown area in the coming year.

"It's going to take a contribution from everybody within the service
to make this effort work," he said.

"There isn't a magic bullet or Band-aid that will fix it, but it
certainly won't fail due to a lack of effort from this organization."

"It's policing the village in 2008 - a strategy that, with the help
of downtown businesses and people living in that area, will come to life."

Looking ahead to 2008, Tanner said he doesn't believe the proposed
casino will have much of an impact on local crime statistics.

"I don't think the casino in Belleville will be a major policing
issue," he said. "It will change traffic patterns in the city and
near the 401, but otherwise, from our perspective, things won't change much."