ALBERTA'S TOP COP GETS TOUGH ON CRIME

Maybe Cenaiko's 'Hood Explains Why Alberta's Top Cop Has Plans To Get
Tough On Calgary's Drug Dealers, Scumbags And Ne'er Do Wells

Maybe it's because a lot of scumbags and dealers hang out in Harvey's
'hood. Maybe it's because Harvey was a cop and doesn't like the look
of lawbreakers. Maybe he's just got the eyes to see things are getting worse.

But Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko, Alberta's top cop and MLA for
much of Calgary's inner city, wants to get tougher on drug dealers
and other street criminals and ne'er do wells.

Harvey, who is also advising Tory leadership favourite Jim Dinning on
policing policy, backs extending the seizure of vehicles from johns
to convicted drug dealers who use their wheels in the selling or
transporting of their illegal stash.

The idea has made it to the legislature floor, but did not jump
through all the hoops before the session ended.

He also wants more undercover cops, both RCMP and city police,
dealing with the street drug trade and more search teams checking out
the bus depot and airport and stopping vehicles on major highways
into the city.

"Drug traffickers traffic in death. They destroy individual lives and
we're seeing more and more of it in this city. Addiction is
skyrocketing, the drug trade is affecting children and young adults.
We have to get tough on crime," says Harvey, playing music to many ears.

He speaks to this columnist of another stabbing at 14 Ave. and 4 St.
S.W., Crack Corner, not to be confused with Crack Cul de Sac in the
East Village. Earlier, a 17 Ave. S.W. convenience store owner tells
this page he has to throw thieving crackheads out of his shop since
the authorities seem unable to help him. If something isn't done, it
could get ugly.

Harvey is quick to point out this isn't only a problem for his 'hood.
The suburbs are part of the play.

"In the suburbs, they don't have drug traffickers in front of their
home. Individuals may ply their trade downtown. But people can get on
a train, head out to a community, do a quick break and enter at your
house, come back downtown, fence the goods, take the money, buy drugs
and their day is done."

Harvey will also push for more unarmed special constables for
Calgary, possibly more than tripling their ranks from the current
nine to about 30, who would handle the legion of lesser offenders,
the aggressive beggars, those turning city parks into personal
campgrounds, the open liquor louts. They would also radio for police
backup for the criminal complaints.

"I see seniors who now don't feel safe to walk a few blocks. It's
just not fair," says Harvey. "The peace officers are less expensive
and, in some cases, better than calling the police and waiting four
hours for a response."

He is not against discussing more uniforms as well.

The top cop also supports a bylaw being debated by aldermen to crack
down on fighting in and outside bars, the carrying of visible knives,
public urination and defecation (believe it or not, getting worse
since the Red Mile made it cool) and, yes, spitting on sidewalks and pathways.

He does not support arming transit cops, but says it is possible in
the future city transit cops could be trained as police officers with
all the hardware.

"You just can't give a guy a gun and say: Here you go. But with the
growth of our city we have to realize the level of officer we need to
deal with criminal activity."

Harvey also points out how common sense isn't so common when talking
about the John Howard Society, whose work he applauds, wanting a
halfway house in his 'hood, with sex offenders, nearby two schools.

"This isn't a case of Not In My Backyard. It's about a facility with
sex offenders. These individuals are sick. I've investigated sex
crimes. Sex offenders can't be cured. Pedophiles want to have sex
with children. And you're putting them next to two schools? As one
person e-mailed me: It's like taking a kid to the candy store and
saying you can't have candy."

On law and order, Cenaiko says his man Dinning is "very receptive and
very committed" to helping people in need but also in dealing with
the bad guys who don't give a damn.

"This is an issue for the new leader. We have a lot more to do.

"Crime prevention programs are good, but they're only as good as the
citizens who uphold the law. With those who don't, we need to step
in. They don't care about the community."