THE SWEEP GOES ON

Police Report Drop In West End Crime Levels

More than three months into Operation Clean Sweep, and police are
still as busy busting thugs and making seizures as they were the day
the program started.

The Winnipeg Police Service released its February statistics
yesterday for the program that has resulted in 45 officers enforcing
warrants and tackling street-level crime in the West End without
attending regular calls for service since November.

Arrests And Seizures

Police arrested another 120 people in February, bringing the 14-week
total to 529.

"We've seen fairly consistent numbers across the board," said Insp.
Boyd Campbell, the officer in charge of Clean Sweep.

Despite the arrests and seizures remaining fairly stable, Campbell
said the crime rate in the West End appears to have gone down, which
can only mean police are arresting a greater proportion of offenders.

"Certainly I think we're seeing the level of (criminal) activity on
the streets is not out there like it was before," said Campbell.

"We know that the impact of the group is being recognized out there.
Some of the drug guys are even trying to set up their own
intelligence on our officers."

Since Clean Sweep began in November in response to the shooting death
of Phil Haiart, officers have laid 173 Criminal Code charges and 132
drug charges, and arrested 177 people on warrants.

Campbell said he doesn't have exact figures for comparison, but is
certain those numbers are "definitely higher" than they would be in
that neighbourhood without Clean Sweep.

Officers have also seized large quantities of marijuana and cocaine,
and small quantities of lesser-known illegal drugs such as ketamine
and African khat leaves.

They've seized weapons ranging from Tasers and dart guns to sawed-off
shotguns, and have collected more than $130,000 in cash as proceeds
of crime, with most of that being drug money.

Last month, Mayor Sam Katz expressed his desire to continue the
program indefinitely, as long as funding could be made available.

Campbell said his group intends to continue policing at the street
level -- not targeting mid or high-level criminals but street thugs
- -- until they're told otherwise.

A Sinister Buffet Of Illegal Drugs

Drug seizures made by Operation Clean Sweep between Nov. 21 and Feb. 28

- - Marijuana 23.7 kg

- - Cocaine (incl. crack) 2.5 kg

- - Magic mushrooms 2.5 kg

- - Ketamine 169 g

- - Crystal meth 75 g

- - Khat leaf 22.5 g

- - Hashish 11 g

- - Tylenol 3 139 pills

- - Effexor 120 pills

- - Ecstasy 106 pills

- - Diazepam 52 pills

- - Temazepam 20 pills

- -- Source: Winnipeg Police Service