POLICE TO STEP UP DOWNTOWN PATROLS

Kelowna RCMP will begin enhanced downtown patrols this weekend with
extra cops on overtime hitting the streets.

RCMP Insp. Cam Forgues made the announcement following a meeting
Thursday with downtown agencies, especially those on Leon Avenue.

"We will start with two extra members, but if we need to do more, we
absolutely will," said Forgues. "We want to send a message early that
misbehaving won't be tolerated."

He said the number of extra officers and the times they are on the
street will depend, in part, on the weather.

The warm weather has brought an early spike in the number of thugs
and dealers on the street.

Kelowna RCMP have four regular officers dedicated to the downtown,
two at a time.

Forgues said police will also call on auxiliaries to keep an eye on
the downtown. They will focus on traffickers.

Selena Stearns of the Kelowna Drop-In Centre said the meeting on
Thursday also focused on what organizations, such as her centre, the
Gospel Mission and Ki-low-na Friendship Centre, can do to make life
outside their doors a little less attractive to troublemakers.

"The problem isn't inside our buildings, it's outside, down the block
or across the street," said Stearns.

"There is a small part of the (street) population that puts everybody
in jeopardy. They don't care, and they don't have the same respect
level that most of the others have."

Stearns said that rules will be more prominently posted, including a
zero tolerance for certain activities. The agencies are working on
signs that will spell out their expectations for street people,
especially the thugs.

"Drug use, trafficking, violence and weapons won't be tolerated," she
said. "If we see that, the people will be asked to leave.

"If there are well-known drug dealers, they wonit have access to our
services. And we will be sharing that information between the agencies."

She said there are limits to what agencies can do, but they will
attempt to move trouble makers along.

"We will try to deal with the loitering," said Stearns. We'll try to
deal with what's here although we know there is no magic wand."