DRUG DEALERS, GANGS, EXTREMISTS TARGETED BY REGION'S NEW 'DIVISION 7'

WATERLOO REGION

You could call it a "one-stop shop" for those working to catch some
of the worst criminals.

It's called the Strategic and Tactical Services division. It pulls
together officers tackling the most high risk cases, in an effort to
provide more efficient and effective policing.

"It's really a more streamlined, seamless approach to attacking what
we're dealing with -- drug dealers, organized crime members, gangs
and extremists," said Supt. Gary Askin, commander of the new division.

"Right off the bat, you've got enhanced public safety because we
anticipate getting more prolific offenders off the street."

The so-called "Division 7" is comprised of three branches -- drugs,
special response and intelligence.

Until recently, those branches were lumped in the much larger
Investigative Services division -- which included everything from
traffic services to homicide.

Pulling those unique branches out of the larger pool will ideally
provide more oversight -- the new division has its own superintendent
and inspector -- and help officers better understand the work of
their colleagues.

"If something happens and we debrief, there are now three units
debriefing," said Insp. Daryl Goetz. " If intelligence does
something, we debrief and we learn from it. Now all three units learn
about the positives and the areas we can improve."

Training is being tailored to meet the needs of the officers in the
new division. Kitchener Rangers coach Steve Spott is scheduled to
talk about team building this month. A psychologist will address
unique professional stressors.

A representative from professional standards has also been invited to
address pitfalls like police corruption.

"We're really overloading them on the training, on the leadership and
values of this new division just to mitigate the risk," Askin said.

"Being a police officer is a dangerous job in the first place, but
these are the high risk areas."

The three branches will move into a newly-renovated wing at headquarters.

The idea is to provide one access point for other branches and police services.

It will save time and money and make enforcement more effective,
Goetz said. All three branches will now be have more information from
across the region and neighbouring jurisdictions -- something that is
becoming increasingly important as crime trends become more fluid,
crossing jurisdictions.

"Having that one place for other services to come to will reduce the
ability of criminals to come into our community and remain
anonymous," Goetz said.

The new division has been up and running since the beginning of
December, but will move when renovations are complete.

Just how the reorganization will be felt by residents of Waterloo
Region is yet to be seen.

But establishing an intelligence-led, collaborative environment for
those tasked with taking down some of the worst offenders can only
mean good things for the community, Askin said.

"We've got high expectations of these officers, but they are very
good at their jobs and they are relentless in their pursuit of these
type of people."