TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL APPROACH NOT GOOD ENOUGH, SAYS DRUG COP

The war on drugs can't be won through the use of criminal law,
according to the Edmonton police officer who created the
highly-successful Report A Drug House (RADH) program. But determined
community action and the use of civil law can squeeze drug activity
out of our neighbourhoods.

That's the message Sgt. Maurice Brodeur brought during a whirlwind
tour of the Alberni Valley and West Coast last week. During his
two-day visit, the veteran officer spoke to schools, to local
government, emergency personnel and RCMP, as well as at a public
meeting Thursday evening at Echo Centre. Brodeur said the RADH
strategy evolved as a more effective use of police manpower in dealing
with drug houses.

"We're all running on shortages. In Edmonton, we're almost always at
minimum manning," Brodeur told a crowd of about 50 residents.
Responding to 25 to 30 emergency calls per shift, regular patrol
officers simply didn't have time to deal with time-consuming drug
house complaints, he said.

"We were doing triage policing; we were only going to stabbings,
shootings -- serious crimes first," Brodeur said. Suspected drug
activity slipped well down the priority list, although police
continued to take complaints, he said. "The biggest mistake: we never
told you we couldn't do anything. The drug dealers thought they were
getting away with it -- and they were. The result was that bad people
were moving out good people."

Brodeur was designated a 'problem-solver,' with the goal of breaking
up drug-house activity. That's when he discovered that the traditional
criminal approach couldn't make a dent on drug activity -- most
suspects were released on the spot and returned immediately to their
criminal lifestyle.

But what Brodeur discovered was that the criminal lifestyle
surrounding drug houses could give police the scope to make life
difficult for residents and their clients. With the support of the
neighbourhood, the RADH approach can do just that, he explained.
Things like photographs of drug activity and license plate numbers are
a big boost to police.

"We gather all the information we can on the address, the names and
CPIC (RCMP criminal data base)," Brodeur said. "When you make that
first visit, they don't like it when you call them by first name.
After introducing himself to the denizens of the home, Brodeur said he
will decide if the house merits the full treatment. If so, "Let's
start the misery."

That could start with a call to animal control. Is that pit bull
licensed? Is he being cared for properly? If there are children in the
home, are they showing signs of abuse or neglect? Is the exterior of
the home being maintained for appearance and safety? Are there illegal
residents in the home? Are there noise violations? Are there public
health concerns?

There are existing laws which cover all these areas, and they can be
enforced. And while drug laws won't force bad tenants from a home,
civil laws will," Brodeur said.

"Police power is limited. In some ways, a bylaw is more powerful than
us," Brodeur said. "Your city is considering a nuisance home bylaw --
I would love to have a nuisance home bylaw."

With the RADH approach, police take their cue from the neighbourhood
on what kind of action to take.

"We do not do criminal action based on the information you give us --
we do what you want us to do to improve the quality of your life,"
Brodeur said. You may have to be satisfied with a well-behaved drug
user living next door, he noted. In some cases, police will issue a
'Clean up your act' order, and the suspect will comply.

"The reality is, if somebody is smoking crack in his own basement and
being quiet about it, ignorance is bliss," he said.

In the question-and-answer session which followed, the extent of the
drug house problem became apparent when resident after resident, many
from different neighbourhoods, kept referring to "our drug house."

Eighth Avenue resident Arnie Gillespie, who appeared before city
council on May 12 to describe a suspected crack house in his
neighbourhood, asked how police prioritize targets.

"If they're very bad, that's a priority. If the community is up in
arms, that's another way to make it a priority," Brodeur said.

"What if it's right next to an elementary school?" Gillespie asked,
noting that Eighth Avenue Elementary is right across the street.

"That's a huge priority," Brodeur said.

Gillespie noted that neighbours in the area have provided police with
video, photographs and license plate numbers, recording suspected drug
activity. Brodeur said that's all very helpful to police, "But we
don't do the criminal stuff."

The event was sponsored by the Port Alberni Community Crystal Meth
Committee and the School District 70 District Parents Advisory Committee.