CIVILIAN GROUP THAT NABS GROW-OPS SPREADS FROM CHILLIWACK TO HOPE

In Hope, apparently there's dope.

That's why a citizens' group is banding together to stamp out
marijuana grow operations in the area.

"We are training them to be the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood,"
says Jackie Remple, assistant co-ordinator of the upstart Grow Watch
program in Hope.

With the intention of training many of the 200 people involved in the
area's existing Block Watch program, Remple says the group is using
neighbouring Chilliwack's program as a model of success.

Chilliwack's Grow Watch was launched in July last year and, by early
August, three large-scale grow-ops were busted. The program was
believed to be the first of its kind in the province.

Chilliwack RCMP Const. Steve Hiscoe says that, from a policing
perspective, the program works.

"It has been a success in Chilli-wack," he says. "Grow-ops are
everywhere out here and it's basically having the neighbours reporting
to us if there is something suspicious going on."

Statistics on the success of the new program are not yet
available.

Remple says program participants learn what to watch out for if a
grow-op is suspected. An RCMP officer helps with the training. Once
the program is up and running, streets will have signs indicating Grow
Watch is operating in the area.

Still, not everyone's impressed.

Micheal Vonn, policy director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association,
says she has problems with civilians doing police work.

"It's like deputizing civilians to create police channels," she
said.

Vonn also has concerns about the information people offer up on their
neighbours.

"If you get a vigilante mentality worked up, it could have
repercussions," she said.

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