POLICE UNIT FIGHTS ORGANIZED CRIME

Drug Dealers Beware - You Are Now A Permanent Target

While City Police have always tried to combat the sale and use of
illegal drugs, there is now a special unit dedicated entirely to drug
enforcement.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit Street Team, formerly
known as the Joint Forces Unit, was formed this summer after the
provincial government gave a cash injection to the fight against
organized crime.

Sgt. Brent Kalinowski heads the unit in Prince Albert and says the new
unit has already been making a difference.

"It has created a dedicated unit. We're not going to be working on a
project and then get pulled away to work on something else," he said.

Currently, there are three officers on the unit but that number is
expected to increase to five in the new year.

"Drugs are a huge problem and we want to put it out," said Kalinowski,
who has been an officer in the city for 20 years. "We just want to
create a safer community."

The drugs of choice in Prince Albert are marijuana, cocaine and
prescription pills, says Kalinowski.

While the new unit has been making some strides, Kalinowski says the
battle against drugs is a partnership with all the units in the province.

The local street team also partners with Saskatchewan Justice's Safer
Communities Neighbourhood program.

Prince Albert doesn't have its own Safer Communities program so peace
officers from Saskatoon are called in, says Saskatoon investigator
Lorne Mulder.

"We respond to complaints of habitual activity of residences," says
Mulder,, adding that activity is usually drug dealing or prostitution.
The program also deals with child abuse.

When a complaint is made against a residence, the investigators do a
follow-up. Complainants remain anonymous, says Mulder.

"If we find the complaint is legitimate we can take various types of
action," he said.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit has a second component,
which targets organized crime.

Both units are comprised of city police and RCMP officers.