CORNWALL POLICE PLACE SIGNS OUTSIDE HOMES OF DRUG SEARCHES

Initiative Intended to Alert Neighbours; Privacy Commissioner To
Investigate

Cornwall police entered a home Wednesday afternoon, allegedly seizing
marijuana, cocaine, ecstacy and Oxycontin and arresting three people.

It seemed like a fairly routine drug search.

But what officers left behind was something new and controversial: A
sign that stated "Drug Search Warrant," telling the neighbourhood what
had happened.

The sign initiative, used for the first time in Cornwall Wednesday, is
part of an attempt by the force to increase its visibility and
presence in the community, said Cornwall police Chief Daniel Parkinson.

"When we go in to do a search warrant, we need people in that
neighbourhood to know that that's what we've been there to do. We
think there's a fundamental right for people to know what is happening
in their neighbourhood when it comes to working with us to reduce or
prevent crime," Chief Parkinson said.

But now, the province's information and privacy commissioner, Ann
Cavoukian, is looking into the practice after noting that "the scope
of it is pretty wide," said spokesman Bob Spence.

The investigation is in its early stages and officials are gathering
information, Mr. Spence said, adding that Ms. Cavoukian had not heard
of any similar cases in Canada.

Graeme Norton of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said the
signs may cast an unfair stigma on people living in homes where they
are planted.

"To potentially impose a stigma on somebody by placing a sign on their
front lawn following a search of their home and even an arrest and a
charge can have the potential of pre-judging that person and sending a
message to their community that they've done something wrong," Mr.
Norton said.

"For an individual to be labelled somebody who's participated in
illicit drug activity, they're generally entitled a court process first."

In a multi-unit home, a sign outside could affect the reputation of
others living there, Mr. Norton said.

Each sign contains space for officers to write the address and unit in
which the search took place.

Signs will not be used unless "there is drug activity or drug charges
confirmed through the execution of the search warrant," Chief
Parkinson said, adding that "the fact that there has been a search
warrant issued is part of a public record."

Ottawa police do not place lawn signs at homes where drug search
warrants are executed. An officer from the drug section could not be
reached for comment yesterday.

The Ottawa force has, since February 2008, listed the addresses of
dismantled marijuana grow operations and clandestine crystal meth labs
on its website.

The information, which includes the date, address, seized items,
number of arrests and charges, is posted on the website for three months.

In Cornwall, Chief Parkinson said residents "clearly told us they
wanted to know that we were out there, they wanted to know what we
were doing to address crime in the city."

Chief Parkinson said his officers usually execute 25 to 40 drug
warrants a year. But the warrants are often executed before dawn,
meaning neighbours might not know what has happened, the police chief
said.

The signs, he said, "should be a source of comfort and encouragement
to people living in a neighbourhood who happen to have a drug house or
drug activity in their midst."

Chief Parkinson said he came across the idea on a U.S. law enforcement
website. He likened the signs to police tape at major crime scenes,
which identifies "a location where there is significant police activity.

"These signs are merely an extension of that," Chief Parkinson
said.

"The fact that we choose to put up a sign instead of yellow police
tape, as far as I'm concerned, is an enforcement option.

"We're not saying there's guilt, we're saying, 'this is what we
did'."

The three people arrested Wednesday in connection with the warrant
executed at at 235A Carleton St. face drug possession charges, Chief
Parkinson said.

Someone removed the sign within a few hours, he said.

"We had no illusion that these things would be there on any sort of
permanent basis," Chief Parkinson said.

"The point has been made."