IS PARKDALE A HAVEN FOR MOBILE DRUG PUSHERS?

Some Residents Fear New Police Strategy Will Push Drug Dealers Into Parkdale

Police at 51 and 31 Divisions will have their ranks
bolstered by new squads of officers as part of the Toronto
Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS) some longtime Parkdale
residents fear drug pushers in other communities will ply their trade
here while the heat is on in other neighbourhoods.

Sheila Lippiat is one of those concerned. The Parkdale resident of
more than 30 years said such a grim scenario has happened in the past.

"If they (the police at 11 and 14 Divisions) think they have it tough
now, it's going to get worse over the summer because of this TAVIS
thing," she said. "It's a very cyclical thing ... (the police) say 'no
area will be neglected', but in the past when they have done things
like this areas like Parkdale are neglected.

"TAVIS as a strategy I support ... but if we want to get serious about
drug abuse in this city and country, we have to come down hard on the
traffickers."

Another Parkdale homeowner, Robert McKitrick, said he's noticed an
increased police presence in recent months across the
neighbourhood.

"Drug pushers always move around anyway, so there's always that
element here," he said. "The police are responding to public and
political pressure .. overall I think the police are responding to the
hotbeds of crime. You're never going to make (drug dealers) go away."

On June 25, it was announced the new officers would lend support at 51
Division, which patrols Regent Park, Moss Park, Cabbagetown and St.
James Town. A similar squad was deployed to North York's 31 Division,
which covers the Jane-Finch area. TAVIS was formed in 2006 to combat
gun and gang violence and is funded by the province.

Parkdale-High Park city councillor Gordon Perks (Ward 14) said the
TAVIS announcement wouldn't negatively impact this
neighbourhood.

"The conversations I've had with the unit commanders at 11 and 14
divisions and some of the officers I've spoken to they actually think
the level of street crime is down over the last decade in Parkdale,"
Perks said. "Yes, there are still people selling drugs in Parkdale.
But the level of activity is down, the level of crime is down, and the
number of officers hasn't been decreased."

Detective Sgt. Ed Roseto at 14 Division said only one officer from his
precinct was sent to 31 Division as part of TAVIS. Considering the
concerns of local residents, Roseto acknowledged that of the last two
anti-drug projects 14 Division ran in Parkdale, more than 60 per cent
of those arrested were not area residents.

"Unfortunately, it's so well-known (in Parkdale) that's where you buy
and sell drugs that even when we get rid of a whole group of people
with each project, a whole new group of people come in or some of
those arrested plead guilty and they're back out on the street within
a couple of months," he said.

But one Parkdale resident who has been selling cocaine for about 10
years and who agreed to speak to The Villager on condition of
anonymity, said the police are focused on arresting people with
firearms. Drugs are the least of their concerns, he suggested.

"Parkdale is non-violent, that's the thing," he said. "The people that
sell (drugs) in Parkdale aren't coming from anywhere, they're here all
the time .. the only drug on the street is crack. No one stands on a
street corner pushing weed or coke. It doesn't happen.

"The cops aren't going after it (the drug trade in Parkdale) because
it's non-violent. Police aren't out to bust drug dealers, they're out
to bust guys carrying guns and committing murders." Roseto countered,
everything within policing is a priority.

"Obviously, if you have people out there running around with guns
that's going to take a higher priority than drugs," he said. "But I
have to tell you that 14 Division, between the community response
unit, our major crimes vice unit and major crimes general unit, we are
constantly down there (in Parkdale).

"I know there's a lot of attention paid to Parkdale ... I feel for the
people that live in the area and I understand their frustration ...
but there is a difference being made even if people don't always see
it." Perks added Toronto needs for the provincial and federal
governments to step up with funding for a 'smart drug strategy'.

"We aren't seeing the federal government take on meaningful education
programs instead of the 'war on drugs'," he said. "While the city is
taking some leadership in terms of harm reduction, we have a federal
government that is actively hostile to it.

"We've had decades of prohibition as pretty much the sole strategy (on
narcotics) and we haven't seen the kind of improvements communities
want. But if you look at other places in the world where they have a
stronger emphasis on prevention, treatment, and harm reduction, you're
seeing better results."

- - with files from Andrew Palamarchuk.