OXFORD WELCOMING ADDITION OF NEW RCMP OFFICER

OXFORD - Oxford Council has embraced the addition of another RCMP
officer for the community under Justice Minister Murray Scott's Safer
Streets initiative for the province.

Council will bring this plan to its February meeting to approve
support of the additional officer.

"We really need to take the officer and use it for what was suggested
or we won't get one," Coun. Wade Adshade said.

The new position will see a three-man investigation unit formed for
Cumberland County. This comes as a welcome addition for Cpl. Joe Ryan
of the Cumberland Detachment, Oxford office.

"It's a great benefit for everyone. Us here in Oxford, Springhill and
elsewhere," he told council at the committee of the whole meeting.

"There is always plenty for us to do here and we can now spend time
on projects we normally don't have the manpower to do," he added.

As an example, Ryan said if someone in the county was growing 500
marijuana plants, it would be naive to think that person wouldn't be
selling all over the county.

As it stands today, there aren't enough resources to investigate
projects like this in the manner they deserve. He said if this unit
had been available years ago, it would have been a great benefit for everyone.

The Town of Oxford will pay the cost of this additional officer. No
amount is available at this time.

In addition, a data entry person has been added to the staff at the
Oxford office, a move Ryan sees as streamlining everyone's job and
maximizing efficiency for each of his officers.

"With this new (six-month position) person starting today (Monday),
it frees up time to get out on the streets more," he added.