NEW POLICE UNITS TO TARGET GANGS AND DRUGS

To crack down on the drug trade and the gangs who profit from it,
Premier Ed Stelmach, announced the addition of 183 new resources that
will hit the streets next April.

"Our streets, our neighbourhoods and our communities belong to honest,
hardworking Albertans," said Premier Stelmach.~ "This infusion of new
police resources sends a clear message to criminals and gang members
that this government will continue to make it increasingly difficult
for you to do business in our province.~ We have made a commitment for
safer communities and bolstering front line police is just one way we
are taking action to achieve that goal."

Four, new dedicated gang enforcement teams, will be established across
Alberta.~ Operating in and around Calgary and Edmonton, as well as
northern and southern Alberta.~ These teams of 67 RCMP and municipal
police will target individuals and gangs involved in the drug trade.

Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta will also receive 14 new
positions while the Integrated Child Exploitation Unit will receive
two positions.~ All 83 positions will be funded by $42.4 million in
federal police funding announced earlier this year.~ The teams will
operate under the direction of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response
Teams (ALERT).

"Police chiefs told us, in September, that more front line officers
are needed to help crack down on serious and violent crime," said
Alberta Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety.~ These
additional resources provide a provincial response to a province wide
problem.~ We are putting those who profit from the sale and
distribution of illegal drugs on notice, that we will disrupt,
dismantle and shutdown your operations."

Alberta communities will also benefit from another 100 new front line
officers.~ A total of $13 million has been earmarked from the Safe
Communities Secretariat to fund these positions.~~ This is the second
wave of police to hit the streets as part of a three-year commitment
to add 300 new officers.~ The first 100 officers were announced as
part of the budget 2008.

All of the new police resources are expected to be in place by April
1st, 2009.