MORE COPS HIRED TO HANDLE MORE COMPLAINTS IN BOW VALLEY THIS
YEAR

From drug busts to a bank robbery to intermittent mayhem on the
streets, 2006 was a busy year for Bow Valley RCMP members.

In both Banff and Canmore, the number of complaints received by
detachments was up significantly, as were arrests and drug seizures.

In Banff, the number of prisoners held on various infractions
increased "significantly" from 1,053 in 2005 to 1,483 (as of Nov. 30)
in 2006, said Staff Sgt. Don Ladouceur, who joined the detachment in
September. In general, there were increases in charges across the
board, but a disturbing one for RCMP members is that charges of
assault on police officers has risen from one in 2003 to 12 last
year, 14 by Sept. 21, and a projected 18 for the year.

On the bright side, though, is the fact the detachment is at a full
strength of 21 members after staff shortages over the summer.

"Traffic enforcement was up quite a bit this year," said Ladouceur.
"We've got a group of young, eager members here and they want to be
on the road, which results in more infractions."

The biggest criminal event in Banff this year was the Aug. 8 robbery
of the CIBC in Banff, in which three armed and masked men held nine
people -- six CIBC staff and three customers, including a
three-year-old child -- at gunpoint for half an hour. The robbers
then set off smoke bombs and escaped into the throngs of people in
downtown Banff at the end of the Telus Skins Game. Two weeks ago
police arrested two of the three suspects and are searching for the
third. Two of the men charged were long-time Banff residents, one of
which had previously worked at the bank.

"The bank robbery was big. We were fortunate to have the assistance
of Calgary General Investigation Service to get it solved and
overall, we've had almost 6,000 complaint files," Staff Sgt. Ladouceur said.

One concern that is being dealt with in Banff is the number of 911
emergency calls made to the detachment. More than 300 were called in
last year and Ladouceur said a new member has taken on the problem as
a project.

"A lot of them are from tourists in motels and instead of picking up
the phone to the operator or call 411, they call 911. We then get an
emergency call from dispatch and we have to respond. A member has to
get in a car, drive there and determine if there's an emergency in
that room. We can't ignore the calls, or it could be like the boy who
cried wolf."

The volume of 911 calls, said Ladouceur, is equal to one staff
member's hours per year -- and for that reason, one member is taking
on a project of having information cards printed in a number of
languages that will explain that 911 is for serious emergencies only.
The cards will then be placed in Banff accommodation units.

Another project being taken on by a new member is dealing with the
frequency of late-night disturbance complaints. The member will poll
residents to find their concerns, those concerns will be put before
elected officials, and then a plan will be developed in conjunction
with BarWatch, to alleviate the problem.

As 2006 rounds to a close, the Banff detachment has seized about
$80,000 of drugs, $70,000 of drug-related cash, $10,000 in stolen
property, two handguns and a variety of prohibited martial arts
weapons. Many of the seizures were made during 25 drug search
warrants, many of which were made with Warden Mike Henderson and his
new search dog Atar. "They've helped us out immensely," said Ladouceur.

Meanwhile in Canmore, complaints to RCMP have risen considerably in
the past year. According to Staff Sgt. Shannon Johnson, there were
6,030 complaint files in 2005 and, as of early December this year,
the detachment was at the 7,000 mark.

"Complaints have definitely gone up," said Johnson. "Drug work has
gone up because we've put a heavy priority on it this year and
increased intelligence on it. Proactive work has meant some very
large seizures and warrants and drug charges have definitely gone up.

"Canmore and Banff have put an emphasis on drug work and that has
translated into other crimes as well; break and enters, thefts."

A Dec. 5 bust, for example, of four drug trafficking operations in
the two communities (three homes in Canmore, one in Banff) resulted
in the seizure of $10,000 worth of cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy,
mushrooms, hashish and steroids, and a cache of weapons ranging from
switchblades to ninja stars and a crossbow.

Cocaine and marijuana are the most prevalent drugs in the area, said
Johnson, who has been staff sergeant in Canmore for two years.

Large busts and increased investigation have been possible, due in
part to the detachment being at its full strength of 18 members all
year. Some large drug busts have occurred through increased highway
traffic checks and others through increased investigation manpower.

For 2007, said Johnson, RCMP focus will continue to be on the drug
scene, on the roads, and in the schools.

"We're involved in the schools and that's not going to go away," she
said. "And as far as tickets go, impaired charges are also up in the area."

Through the holiday season, RCMP province-wide have stepped up
enforcement and the Bow Valley is no exception. "More members out on
the road translates into more impaired charges," said Johnson.

"Overall, impaired charges are up, but I don't think Canmore is
different in that than other communities. Some people don't get the
message that's out in the media and in the papers and they continue
to drink and drive.

"And enhanced policing in summer has cut down on the number of
(alcohol-related) complaints around the corner cabin. There have also
been more liquor tickets and more arrests for public consumption."

As usual, increased check stops for drinking and driving will
continue throughout the holiday season.