POLICE SEEK COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FIGHT CRIME

Residents inform police about houses in certain areas of the city
where drug trafficking, drug use, and other crimes are suspected to
be taking place

Kenora Police Service Chief Dan Jorgensen says its time for community
attitudes to change when it comes to policing in Kenora, and the
transition is already taking place in some neighbourhoods in the city.

"People don't realize the power they have within the community," said
Jorgensen.

The police chief was responding to questions about what city
residents can do when they see suspected criminal activity taking
place in their neighbourhoods, in particular possible drug dens or
"crack houses".

He said the police have been getting complaints about houses in
certain areas of the city where drug trafficking, drug use, and other
crimes are suspected to be taking place.

Jorgensen said these situations can happen in otherwise quiet
neighbourhoods because the residents there aren't willing to take
ownership of their community and rely solely on the police to be the
"capable guardians" of these areas.

"They basically are controlling the neighbourhood," said Jorgensen of
the "party houses" that can sometimes spring up in Kenora. "What the
neighbourhood needs to do is take back control."

Enforcing the laws is still the role of the police, said Jorgensen,
and they do provide additional patrols in areas where there are
complaints of suspicious activities.

However, he said the communities and neighbourhoods can play a major
role themselves and help police to clean up these situations, when
they work with the police.

Jorgensen said communities can organize and watch these suspected
drug houses. He suggested they call the police every time there is
suspicious activity, and keep a record of it.

For example, Jorgensen said if they notice a pattern -- like once a
week when numerous cars drive up, stay for ten minutes or so, and
drive away -- this is likely a regular drug shipment with drug buyers
coming and going.

He said this type of information is invaluable to police.

"So when the community calls us with that kind of information, it's a
lot more effective than driving by occasionally," said Jorgensen.

The police chief said they have had a couple of neighbourhoods do
just that of late. One neighbourhood in the north end of the city,
that was upset at the "goings on" at a particular neighbourhood
residence in their area, organized a community meeting just last
month and invited the police to attend to help find solutions to the problem.

Jorgensen praised the move of this group, which he did not want to
identify. He said the community members shared their ideas with a
police officer who attended, and the officer informed them what the
police could do to assist them.

""The goal is to either get people to recognize there is a capable
guardian (in the neighbourhood), or get them (the problem residents)
to move out," said Jorgensen.

He said, in police terms, this is called "community mobilization",
and it can work for any type of problem, involving suspected criminal
activity, in any part of the city.

"We'll do this for any neighbourhood," said Jorgensen of working with
the residents to solve any issues. "If there is a problem house in
their neighbourhood, call us."The goal is to either get people to
recognize there is a capable guardian (in the neighbourhood), or get
them (the problem residents) to move out," said Jorgensen.

He said, in police terms, this is called "community mobilization",
and it can work for any type of problem, involving suspected criminal
activity, in any part of the city. "We'll do this for any
neighbourhood," said Jorgensen of working with the residents to solve
any issues. "If there is a problem house in their neighbourhood, call us."