CHIEF TO DEPLOY 62 OFFICERS TO FIGHT CORE CRIME

Plans to clean up the city's core may shift some crime to other
communities but ultimately lead to an overall drop in incidents, police say.

This month, 62 beat patrol officers will be on the streets in the
inner city -- a posse out to combat crime from social disorder to drug dealing.

Chief Rick Hanson said while results won't be overnight, plans are in
place to save the downtown from otherwise certain decay.

"We hope people don't think we will create a nirvana ... (but) we
recognize there are a whole lot of issues and problems and we have a
plan," he said yesterday.

"It's going to be a far more aggressive approach to taking back the streets."

While the focus is to rid the city centre of crime, police concede
success there will likely send problems to other communities.

"That's always a risk but it doesn't mean we just let it happen," Hanson said.

Recently, some in the Bridgeland area met with police to voice those
very concerns.

Only time will tell if any problems pushed out of the core and into
their community will get quick attention, said Bridgeland-Riverside
Community Association president Lori Losowy.

"Really, it's a wait-and-see approach," she said.

Many years ago, Deputy Chief Al Redford saw the before and after
picture in Inglewood, proof a community can be rid of crime.

"The difference now is we are better prepared and can predict what is
likely to occur to outlying communities," he said.

"We know we will see some displacement, but when displacement occurs
we have a net reduction of crime across the board."

Jacqueline Drew, Inglewood BRZ executive director, is cautiously
optimistic that will be the case and putting faith in police to make it happen.

"The question is, 'Are we doing it the right way or is it a band-aid
solution?' " she said. "If it moved here, maybe they'd do that same
thing for us ... if it does, I'm going to be the loudest person out there."