WEAPON, DRUG CRIMES UP

Cops Say Guns Are A Common Tool Of Narcotics Trade

The death of a police officer in May demonstrated a local crime trend
in 2006: There were more guns, drugs and attempts to kill.

In May Const. John Atkinson, 37, was shot and killed after disrupting
a crack cocaine deal. He was the first police officer slain in the
Windsor Police Service's 120-year history.

In 2006, when police found drugs -- mostly crack -- they often found
guns.

"When we execute search warrants, guns are found where the drugs are
located," drug squad Staff Sgt. Cort Rebkowec said. "Some -- but not
all -- have originated in the U.S. Some we can't determine."

As of the end of November, attempted murders shot up 233 per cent,
drug arrests grew almost 28 per cent and the use of firearms or
weapons in the commission of a crime increased 12 per cent, to 190
from 169. Drug crime rose to 513 from 401.

The weapons statistic doesn't tell the whole story about guns, said
Deputy Chief Gary Smith, because it includes the use of knives and
other weapons like a baseball bat. The number of incidents involving
guns surged to 60 in 2005 from 20 in 2000, according to police. Police
can't say definitively how the guns and drugs are getting to Windsor.
They could be imported from the U.S. or transported down the highway
from Toronto. Or the drugs are being cooked somewhere in Essex County.
It was an ominous sign when Toronto gang members were spotted in
Windsor this year, Rebkowec said.

CRACK 'PREVALENT'

"Crack cocaine is prevalent," Rebkowec said. "It's always been here,
but it's just that it's more readily available. The criminal element
is providing more to sell."

There were five homicides in 2006, unchanged from last year. The
number of homicides probably would have spiked this year if inept
would-be killers were a better shot, said Det. Mike Comelli.

"My personal opinion is these guys using guns don't know how to use
them," Comelli said in explaining the increase in attempted murder
crimes to 10 from three. "They aren't trained. They pull out a gun and
just shoot."

Smith has another theory.

"It's better medical care and better response," he said. "You have
paramedics in the ambulances now. You have better intervention at
medical centres. Some of it is inexperienced people involved (in
crimes), but some has to do with luck."

In the past three years the crime rate experienced a yo-yo effect.
Crime increased four per cent from 2003 to 2004, but decreased 13.4
per cent from 2004 to 2005. For the first 11 months of 2006, crime
increased two per cent.

While assaults between strangers were down four per cent, they were up
almost eight per cent between family members. Assaults on police
officers increased 41 per cent, but criminal harassment dropped 12 per
cent.

Sexual assaults committed by non-family members declined 35 per cent,
but sexual offences within families shot up 25 per cent.

"Generally we think it was an OK year," Smith said. "It's still safe
here. People have confidence in the police service. Hopefully we'll
have a better idea next year of where the gangs, drugs and guns are
coming from."

Police announced early last month they will spend $2 million to hire
14 new officers and buy high-tech equipment to aid in crime analysis.