LASQUETI ISLANDERS AND POLICE TRY TO REPAIR RELATIONSHIP

LASQUETI ISLAND -- Yesterday was a day of mending fences -- or water lines,
at least.

Just 12 hours after receiving an earful at a community meeting from
outraged Lasquetians angered by allegations that the isle in the Strait of
Georgia is B.C.'s "Marijuana Mecca," Staff-Sgt. Bill Van Otterloo returned
yesterday to set about rebuilding strained relations between the community
of 400 and its offshore police force.

That was music to the ears of Laurie Gates, whose water line was damaged by
officers during last week's annual cannabis crackdown.

"They hauled out our water reservoir and slashed it seven times -- three
times right through -- and the water line was pulled out of the ground for
300 feet," said the 36-year-old single mother of two, adding the police
"vandalism" was done in the false belief that the water line fed a grow
operation.

"We've been out of water for three days. No showers, no watering the
garden, no brushing your teeth. But [Van Otterloo] was totally taking
responsibility and clearly saying: 'Yes' his people were responsible."

Van Otterloo, who apologized to the community Wednesday night, said by
expediting the repairs he's trying to rebuild trust.

"I feel I've heard their message and I'm hoping we can respect that in our
actions," said Van Otterloo, who took over the Oceanside detachment in
November. "I'm hoping we can work from that as a base and continue from there."

Many in the self-described community of "eccentrics" were empowered by the
meeting outcome but remained skeptical that the police will change their ways.

"It's one thing to apologize but it's another to act on it," said the
island's sole taxi driver, Barry Churchill, who has been on the island for
29 years. "They say they are sorry but they have to stop being so
[heavy-handed] and flying so low."

Gates said she hopes her water will be back running by the weekend.