POLICE PIT EXPERIENCE AGAINST CRIMINALS

Officers Hit Streets To Get Lowdown On Eastside Crime

The scene is right out of Los Angeles or Miami -- police seizing
semi-automatic rifles, a mountain of cocaine and cold, hard cash.

But the violent world of gangs, guns and drugs is much closer to
home.

Police in Calgary's District 4 office, who seized $4 million worth of
drugs and a cache of weapons last week, have a new arsenal of
experience at the helm with plans to keep pressure on criminals.

Their target? Thugs overtaking LRT platforms, drug dealers and
organized crime.

Former homicide unit Staff Sgt. Barry Cochran and former downtown
Staff Sgt. Steve Ellefson have joined District 4. The areas patrolled
include Forest Lawn, Marlborough, Dover, Abbeydale, Penbrooke Meadows
and Erin Woods.

In the few short weeks they've been assigned, the staff sergeants have
put their heads together with Insp. Rob Williams to come up with a new
plan to combat crime in the district.

"We bring diversity," said Cochran, who has close to two decades of
experience working undercover and bringing killers to justice.

They're combining their mountain bike unit, LRT patrol and district
response team to work as a larger crime prevention unit in time for
what police are anticipating as a busy summer.

Besides the ongoing crime that comes with the drug and sex trades,
increasing violence at LRT stations is moving to the top of the list,
said Williams.

"People shouldn't feel unsafe picking up their kids from the C-Train,"
said Williams, who has 25 years experience and two chief's awards to
his credit.

"The average citizen deserves a safe passageway," said Ellefson, a
decorated officer who used to live in the area. "It's a quality of
life issue."

Ellefson, who has worked extensively to help create a stronger street
beat for downtown officers, aims to continue that work.

"I believe in walking the beat whole-heartedly. If you're involved in
your neighbourhood, you're coming face to face with the people we are
paid to protect. Only in a beat patrol program can you gain that
support," he said.

Increased police presence along known prostitution strolls, as well as
walk throughs at local nightclubs, will also be part of the changes.

Residents are already seeing the new team's faces on the
street.

"I think the community is going to play a big role in preventing,
identifying and solving crime," said Cochran.

Forest Lawn community watchdog Art Sheeler says he was impressed to
see the top cops walking the beat to get to know their territory.

"I think we are the most fortunate community anywhere. We get the
cream of the crop in our police force."

Sheeler has long been an advocate for keeping sex trade workers and
drug dealers off of front lawns in the neighbourhood.

"The big thing is the prostitution; then the drug dealer follows the
prostitution; then the crackhead follows the drug dealer. We just
don't need that," he said. "I think the illegal people are going to
realize they can't be pushing these people around and think they'll
get away with it."