ISLAND FOLKS BLAST POLICE OVER POT ALLEGATIONS

LASQUETI ISLAND -- Staff-Sgt. Bill Van Otterloo took off his
RCMP-issue flak jacket before a community meeting here last night.

He shouldn't have.

Judging by the verbal volleys the three-member RCMP contingent took at
the 2 1/2-hour meeting, Van Otterloo should have kept it on.

But after 16 speakers told Van Otterloo, Sgt. Bruce Wright and Insp.
Howard Goodridge, all agreed that this year's marijuana busts went
over the thin blue line.

In fact, at the meeting's conclusion, Van Otterloo apologized for an
RCMP news release that called Lasqueti Island a "marijuana mecca."

"If there was a [statement] that slandered your community, I apologize," Van
Otterloo said as the 100 residents cheered., "Because that was not our
intent. It was more a general comment than directed at Lasqueti Island."

During the emotional meeting, residents told of how they've been
harassed by helicopters during the annual summer raids here.

Judy Peternard recalled how her two disabled daughters were
traumatized by the RCMP chopper hovering over her house looking for
pot plants.

"My one daughter couldn't eat all day Monday," Peternard said.

"You've got to look further than your noses, guys, to realize life is
going on here."

Disabled pensioner Chris Burfchill told about how her livestock was
traumatized by the helicopter.

Daniel Ayers called the RCMP actions "harassment.

"I grow three plants in my yard -- come and get them," Ayers said.
"This is a joke. Is busting a crack house too much work?"

Residents also questioned why the RCMP news release also made two
unsubstantiated comments: That pot is used as barter here and that
organized crime is behind the grow ops.