MORE COPS TO FIGHT GROW OPS

Nelson-Based Inspector to Run RCMP in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Grand Forks

Pressure to deal with marijuana grow ops has forced the RCMP to
reorganize their detachments in the Kootenays and introduce a
regional top cop to co-ordinate their efforts. More plain clothes
officers will also be added to the Nelson detachment to help rural detachments.

An inspector, stationed in Nelson, will be placed in charge of the
Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Grand Forks detachments, says District
Commander Don Harrison, head of the RCMP's southeast district in B.C.
The four detachments will make up a new Kootenay Boundary police unit.

"What we need over there is a quarterback," Cmdr. Harrison said.
"Somebody who is going to utilize all our resources in that area more
effectively. We have lots of problems with grow ops and border
integrity so we want to get a senior member of the RCMP over there
and really focus on crime."

Last summer, the RCMP announced they captured 25,135 marijuana plants
from indoor and outdoor grow ops around the Kootenays.

The new position has been approved but Cmdr. Harrison expects the new
inspector will take their position in the fall of 2008.

To assist the inspector the B.C. RCMP are also hoping to add six
plain clothes investigators to the Nelson detachment. Those officers
won't come for at least a year and a half, Cmdr. said. The positions
are funded by the province and there are several other priorities
ahead of the new Kootenay officers.

Plain clothes investigators carry out general investigations and
would be a key asset to the inspector, said Cmdr. Harrison.

"They take on those types of investigations that are a little more
complex, a little more time consuming, that need certain expertise,
investigative expertise."

The plain clothes investigators would be a resource to the new
inspector and rural detachments facing more complicated crimes.

"If you have a commander say in a place like Kaslo and you have x
number of resources and you have a major issue, a [general
investigator] can come over and easily help you, assist you at
targeting criminals or problems in your area," Cmdr. Harrison said.

He is excited about having an inspector in the Kootenays.

"We've had [inspectors] in the Kootenays before and because of
restructuring a few years ago we moved everything into Kelowna. We
really have a need for a senior RCMP officer over there to organize
our resources. We're really excited about that."