SHOT IN DRUG COPS' ARM

Squad Bags 10-Officer Boost As Workload Goes 'Through The Roof'

Marijuana plants cultivate -- a crime the beefed-up Ottawa police drug
unit will now be better able to nip in the bud. Busier than ever
before, the city's drug squad also has its hands full dealing with
crack, ecstasy, meth and even prescription pills. (Ottawa Police photo)

Stretched to its limit and frustrated by scant resources, the Ottawa
police drug unit will finally receive the treatment it needs when 10
cops join the squad later this month.

The drug unit will be split into two investigative teams, with one
focused on organized crime, including marijuana grow operations.

The other will continue pursuing investigations initiated by
detectives and patrol officers.

Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault, who heads the drug unit, says he's now at a
"comfortable" staffing level.

"We're busier than we have ever been," Pinault points
out.

TURNED DOWN WORK

The 10 cops will be added to the unit on Nov. 20, bringing it to a
total of 28 officers and two support staff.

The drug unit is getting the help thanks to a provincial-municipal
partnership to fund police hirings.

Pinault says his squad has had to turn down work because he just
didn't have enough cops to follow up on investigations.

Until now, Pinault notes, the drug unit hasn't significantly expanded
since municipal amalgamation in 2001.

Randy Mar, of the police's corporate planning division, says
drug-related incidents in Ottawa increased 15% from 2004 to 2005.

Those incidents included seizures, charges and drug-related
complaints, Mar notes.

And two significant enforcements -- Project Sally and Project Angle
Iron -- roped in a number of drug suspects in Lowertown and Hintonburg
last year.

METH, ECSTASY COMBO

The increasing number of narcotics cases has resulted in a workload
that has "gone through the roof," Pinault says.

Although attention has shifted to crystal meth lately, the Ottawa drug
unit has seen constant problems involving marijuana, crack cocaine,
prescription pills and ecstasy.

In Ottawa, methamphetamine has been turning up in ecstasy pills.
Pinault says there has been only one occurrence where police found the
drug in powder form.

Front-line cops are also seeing disturbing new drug
trends.

Staff Sgt. Paul Johnston, whose officers in the central-east district
patrol Rideau-Vanier -- the ward with the highest crime rate -- says
drug pushers are increasingly targeting the homeless.

"We're seeing more open drug use in our downtown core," Johnston says.
"Crack cocaine is the most prevalent drug we see."

Drug charges aren't included in the annual police activity report or
the ward-by-ward crime stats released last week by Ottawa police.

While recent stats only detail Criminal Code charges, drug charges
fall under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Mar and Pinault note that drug-related stats would be skewed because
the drug unit does so much proactive work, which adds to the number of
charges laid.