HELP ERADICATE DRUG HOUSES

Drug houses are no match for knowledge-sharing neighbours.

So said two members of the Edmonton Police Service who spoke at the
Wetaskiwin Moose Hall during a special seminar introducing an
innovative program, Keeping Drug Dealers on the Run: A Quality of
Life Initiative.

The program, which started in September 2005, was a response to
residents feeling hopeless in the face of drug houses in their neighbourhoods.

"In the city, they're tired of calling the Tips (Crime Stoppers)
line," said Const. David Woudstra.

Speaking to the program's success, Woudstra said "the RCMP in
Sherwood Park hate us because (the drug houses have moved there)."

Telling the crowd he lived in Belgravia, an Edmonton neighbourhood
of about 300 families with lots of seniors and young people, he had
to fight apathy.

"We don't know the wheel's broken (if you don't report crime)."

Thanks to "gangs" of proactive citizens "all with canes," resident
discovered speeders (meth addicts).

Const. Maurice Brodeur, who has been a police officer for 20 years,
explained the steps of the program and his motivation.

"I wanted to help the neighbours get rid of the problem. I know
people having to sell their houses after being there for years."

The first step is to scan and gain awareness of the problem.

Police may drive around and investigate on a very casual basis.

The second step is analysis -- this is where community involvement is key.

"Property crimes and drugs are like a bad marriage. They drink
together although they don't like each other," Brodeur said.

In Edmonton's south side Ritchie neighbourhood there was a 35 per
cent drop in crime thanks to the program.

There are three levels of drug houses. About 10 per cent are high
level houses which are fortified houses or labs.

The vast majority, 70 per cent, are mid-level dial-a-dopes and are
marked by very high traffic.

The rest are low-level affairs. For example in a rental property,
where a packet of marijuana may be dropped from one balcony to another.

The third step is response, which has multiple steps.

Community stations and patrol officers report citizens complaints.

Police members use the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) to
do their "due diligence," Brodeur said.

"There's a reconnaissance of the house. Is it filthy? Call bylaw. We
identify the tenants, owners by recording licence plates," even
going as far as to inspect the house's mail.

"I'm just checking on a Crime Stoppers tip (I might say on my
initial visit," Brodeur said.

The first formal visit comes with a warning. Next is partnership and
agency action.

Partnerships include residents "who are in the know," landlords,
municipal departments -- especially bylaw, even the dog pound -- and
provincial agencies like child crisis and social services.

"Capital Health is great at (property) condemnations."

Then letters are sent to neighbours and finally comes eviction of
the drug house operators.

Getting together as a community has tremendous power.

"We all get together like locals on a corn patch. Last year the
initial report of an old lady with binoculars helped solve a River
Bend homicide.

"We condemned a truck, a shed, even a (cot) under some stairs."

Addicts are also infamous junk collectors, and so are an easy
targets for bylaw officials.

The final step is assessment. In total between September 2005 and
now, there were 186 reported drug house addresses, 162 which were
cleared (111 were concluded and 51 were made inactive) -- an 88 per
cent clearance rate.

The most important feature of displacing a drug house is that if it
does re-establish itself, the house is diminished significantly,
until it's snuffed out of existence.

Benefits of Keeping Drug Dealers on the Run are that it's cost
effective, uses volunteers and students, results in greater police
satisfaction and that the drug network is removed.

Brodeur said residents everywhere, including Wetaskiwin, must be
constantly vigilant.

"(Drug houses) are not an Edmonton thing. It's Fort McMurray, Wetaskiwin."