SAFETY TEAM SUBJECT OF POLICE PROBE

A member of Langley Township's Public Safety Inspection Team is being
investigated by police and the entire program has been suspended,
pending an audit and results of the RCMP probe.

"The police have been asked to look at an incident involving a member
of the team," said Township fire chief Doug Wade, who heads the program.

"Whether that is criminal or not - that is up to police. It may have
been a misunderstanding or a criminal event."

Langley RCMP said the person being investigated is a Township fire
department member who was on duty with the team when the incident occurred.

"We are currently involved in a criminal investigation. This
investigation is a result of a complaint we received from a Langley
Township municipal employee who is a member of that team," said Cpl.
Peter Thiessen.

"The allegations made are (related to) a criminal offence but we are
not in a position to say what the allegations are. If the evidence
supports a criminal charge, then we will release what those
allegations are."

The team, made up of a fire inspector, two RCMP officers, an
electrical advisor and bylaw inspector, investigates premises where
excessive use of electricity has been noticed by BC Hydro. It shuts
down power sources that pose a danger, usually caused by a marijuana
growing operation. Wade said the team has had huge successes in the
year it's been up and running.

That sentiment was echoed by Mayor Kurt Alberts at the April 15
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce meeting. He said the team had
intercepted 217 grow-ops "in less than a year." He said the team was
an important element in ensuring public safety, because of the high
number of drug operations in Langley Township.

The impetus of the audit is the possible criminal incident involving
the team member, but Wade also wants to look at issues in Surrey and
Coquitlam.

A Coquitlam couple have been left squatting in their own home after
the safety inspection team slapped them with a $5,000 inspection fee
even though no illegal activity was found. The couple can't take down
the 'Scarlet letter' notices until the fee is paid. The woman is eight
months pregnant.

The Township team has not been challenged in court, but Wade is
watching two cases in Surrey carefully.

"It will be a full audit with a best practices type analysis to see
what we are doing," Wade said.

Police have told Wade the criminal investigation will proceed
expeditiously. The audit will take longer and is expected to be
complete in a few months.

A Charter of Rights challenge and another specific incident in Surrey
are currently waiting for a judgment in court. The outcome of those
court challenges will impact the audit, said Wade.