STEPPING OUTSIDE OF THE CUBICLE

Every morning I arrive at my desk in the Free Press audience
development department, open the top right-hand drawer and bring out
my "to do" pile of work.

On Wednesday, however, I was informed that I would be spending the day
"job shadowing" in the newsroom.

I put my "to do" pile back in the drawer, grabbed my purse, pen and
reporter's notebook and headed up to the third floor.

I was graciously greeted by our deputy editor, who handed me two taxi
slips and sent me off to the Public Safety Building to attend the
police news conference, held every morning at 11.

Even though I have driven by the Public Safety Building, I had never
been inside. I was curious to see how the news conference would unfold
and what information was to be shared.

On this day I was privileged to witness a collection of evidence from
not one but two drug seizures. There before me lying on the conference
table was an assortment of illegal substances (crack cocaine,
marijuana), a laptop computer, various packaging materials and scales,
18 grams of unknown white powder -- believed to be a cutting agent --
$13,000 in cash, several sawed-off 12-gauge shotguns and 14 rounds of
12-gauge ammunition.

The police spokesperson told the story of how the tactical support
team members executed a search warrant in two different homes, one
located in the northwest and one located in the southwest of our city
last week.

As a longtime North End resident, I was interested in the fact that
the south end had been mentioned in these crimes. I am sure you will
agree that most people think crime in our city originates in the North
End, but actually it occurs everywhere.

The spokesperson then briefly described the suspects and what had
happened to them since the drug seizures.

Now it was time for the media to ask questions.

Are they gang members? Not to police knowledge

What is the relevance of the laptop? No comment

Are the two suspects connected? No reason to believe they are
connected

Why are the firearms modified? They can easily be
concealed

I wanted to know why it took the Winnipeg Police Service six days to
invite us to the viewing. But could I ask a question? I was just job
shadowing.

Then my question was asked by another media personality. The police
cited paperwork as the reason for the delay. I was astonished. The
police department has a media conference every day and the drug
seizures happened late last week. Good grief! What else are they
holding back due to paperwork?

Another question ran through my head. Why did the media have to push
and pull information out of the police spokesperson? He read a
pre-written statement and when the media asked questions they were
answered with one or two words.

The meeting was adjourned. I watched the media personalities gather up
their notebooks, voice recorders, still and video cameras. As they
filed out I found myself glaring at the illegal drugs and the money on
the table. Then glancing to the left I caught sight of the modified
firearms.

I thought about how the "suspects" may have the right to harm their
own bodies by choosing to take the drugs. But those firearms could
harm innocent people

What has happened to our beloved city? Two drug seizures in two days,
two very different neighbourhoods of our community, police taking six
days to release the information on the suspects and the modified
firearms that could be easily concealed in small places right in your
neighbours' homes.

Travelling back to the office, I passed several neighbourhoods.
Looking at the pastel-coloured houses, neatly shovelled sidewalks and
lovely drapes on the windows, I couldn't help but wonder what stories
were behind the closed doors.

How well do we know our neighbours or their children? The children who
are now adults and living in other areas of our city? Are they hiding
modified weapons? Are they involved in drug crimes? Whether it is the
north, south, east or west end of our city, I know realize that crime
has no boundaries.

What stories indeed.

What an interesting experience this has been.