TURNING ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOPS INTO MAJOR BUSTS

Bad guys have long known about the reputation a trio of Leeds County
OPP constables have built for sniffing out nefarious activity.

Now, the OPP is publicly saluting constables George Duke, Rob Sinclair
and David Vogelzang for their tenacity in patrolling Highway 401 and
other roadways.

The trio travels to Barrie on Monday for the provincial force's sixth
Accolades Awards ceremony where they'll be honoured with the OPP's top
award for enforcement.

"It's really kind of cleaning up the highway," said Sergeant Kristine
Rae of the OPP's Eastern Region headquarters in Smiths Falls of their
efforts.

She said Duke, Sinclair and Vogelzang have compiled a lengthy list of
seizures - a laundry list of drugs, marijuana, cash, cigarettes and
other goods intercepted before they can do more harm.

"They like to dig and they like to work. They can recognize that
something is out of place and they follow it through," said Rae when
asked what makes the trio tick.

"Their results are just phenomenal."

Sinclair said Friday it's an honour for them to be recognized for
their efforts.

But he stressed they're not alone among their OPP colleagues in taking
the job of traffic enforcement seriously.

"There are other officers all around in this area and across the
province who are making fantastic vehicle stops," said Sinclair.

He said the key to being effective on the highway, a skill honed with
experience, is "looking beyond the plate."

That means never taking anything at face value when you've pulled over
a vehicle.

Sinclair admits you also have to have an eagerness to do the job and
be someone who "likes getting the bad guys."

"You have to be proactive. You have to be out there and you have to
stop," he said.

"And then take a step back and open your eyes and say, 'Hey, is there
something more to this than I originally believed?'"

Indeed, it's not uncommon for a so-called routine traffic stop for a
Highway Traffic Act infraction like speeding to result in a major
seizure of drugs or cigarettes.

"It comes through training and the realization that this stuff is
going on," explained Sinclair.

Even with that experience - 13 years for Sinclair and Duke, about
eight for Vogelzang - he said seeing just what's happening on the
region's roadways is "eye-opening."

He's quick, too, to credit the commander of the Leeds detachment,
Inspector Jeroen Meinen, and senior staff for recognizing the value of
traffic enforcement.

Sinclair agreed the Leeds and Grenville area definitely has a
reputation among the motoring public.

"They say they know not to speed in this area," he said with a note of
pride.

Sinclair was reluctant to talk about any favourite busts Friday,
noting many of his cases are before the courts.

"We've had some lovely seizures," is as far as he'll
go.

What gives Sinclair his greatest satisfaction though, is seeing the
look on the faces of a family or other affected person when a trial
ends in conviction.

"That's a lovely sense of satisfaction."