CORONER WANTS DRUG-STORAGE RULES REVIEWED

NANAIMO - RCMP should reconsider how they store seized drugs, says a
coroner's report into a Courtenay police constable's death last year.

Barry Schneider was found dead of a drug overdose in his home Nov. 29. He
was co-ordinator of the North Island District Drug Awareness Program.

Coroner Glenn Partridge said Schneider twice got heroin and cocaine from
the Courtenay RCMP detachment for drug lectures. He died the day after
obtaining it for the second time.

In neither case did he sign for the drugs which were supposed to be
destroyed, Partridge said.

Schneider overdosed on heroin and cocaine.

Partridge recommended the RCMP give "serious consideration...to the method
of storage of street-drug exhibits from the time between the destruction
order and actual destruction."

He discounted suicide. He said Schneider had prior problems with alcohol
but no history of heroin or cocaine use.