COMMUNITY URGED TO BE EYES AND EARS FOR POLICE

About 60 people from throughout Chatham-Kent gathered on Saturday to
learn how they can take back their communities.

The Crime Prevention and Safety Board of Chatham-Kent hosted an
information session at the Park Avenue Business Centre for community
leaders, neighbourhood watch groups and community policing
organizations to discuss how they can act as the eyes and ears of the
Chatham-Kent Police.

"There are three of us (in the intelligence office) for the whole
municipality, so we can't be everywhere," said Chatham-Kent Police
Det. Const. Dan Graham, of the drug unit.

Graham, along with Det. Const. Jeff Teetzel, spoke about the drug
problems in the municipality and how community members can provide
information to police that may be the last piece to an investigation.
"It may be a little thing to you, but it may be the missing piece for
us to be able to issue a search warrant," said Teetzel.

In the local war on drugs, Teetzel said the biggest problem is the use
of cocaine and crack cocaine.

"It's bad," he said. "There are a lot of people that don't know what's
going on next door to them."

Although police look to the community for information about crimes,
Teetzel said community policing does not require individuals to act as
front-line officers.

"If somebody sees what they believe is a drug deal going down, don't
approach them," he said.

Instead, Teetzel suggests witnesses contact police, or if they prefer
to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers.

Teetzel said the key to combating the drug problem in a community is
to remain visible. Using the example of East Side Pride (ESP), Teetzel
said neighbourhoods can be successful in removing the problems.

"East Side Pride got to where they are right now by being active," he
said.

Unfortunately, he said, the criminals often relocate to another area
of the city.

Crime Prevention and Safety Board of Chatham-Kent president and ESP
chair, Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew, said the goal of the information
session was to educate the community about how the police work and to
form partnerships between neighbourhood watch and policing groups.

Crew said it doesn't matter that each community within the
municipality is dealing with different problems, such as drugs and
mischief to traffic issues.

"When you are a victim of crime, it doesn't matter what kind of crime
it is," she said.

John Zarebski, program consultant for the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health in Chatham-Kent, was encouraged by the turnout to the
session.

"Those are the connections you need to try to reduce harms in our
community," he said.

Diana Browning, president of Ridgetown Community Policing, said the
session answered many questions about what happens when individuals
call in tips to the police.

"Stuff is being done, it just takes time," she said. "The community
has to get involved."

Argyle Crescent Neighbourhood Watch member Philip Ennis said the crime
in Chatham does not compare to his native home in England, thanks to
the community's pro-active approach.

"I'm surprised how the community is involved with the police in a town
that is relatively crime-free," he said. "It's best to solve the crime
before it's there.

"The one thing I notice most is how safe I feel here."