DRUG FIGHT COMMITTEE IDEA REBUFFED

According To Peterborough's Top Cop, It's Up To City Council To
Strike A Committee To Fight Drugs.

On Tuesday, the Peterborough-Lakefield Police Services Board received
correspondence from city council about seeking out the resources
needed to tackle the increasing drug problem in Peterborough. A
motion to do so was put forward by Councillor Bill Juby last week.

But Police Chief Terry McLaren says his interpretation of the matter
is it's up to council to lead the way in forming a committee.

Peter McLean, chair of the police services board, says under the
Police Services Act, the board doesn't take direction from council
but will take the resolution forwarded "under advisement." Chief
McLaren affirms that, adding he's not opposed to working with a
committee to develop strategies to fight drugs.

"Maybe there's something out there we haven't looked at. If it means
putting together a task force to target areas, that's something we
can look at."

Chief McLaren says an officer was recently re-assigned from the
Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit to work strictly on the drug
problem. That coupled with the work of frontline officers and
intelligence officers results in numerous drug-related arrests. In
2005, 143 drug-related charges were laid -- a 36.2 per cent increase
from the year prior.

"If the perception out there is nothing is being done, it's totally
wrong. Our officers are out there making arrests."