POT GROW OPERATIONS POSE A RISK TO TORONTO

The shooting deaths of four RCMP officers in Alberta highlight the dangers
of marijuana grow operations, an escalating problem in this city, says
interim Toronto Police Chief Michael Boyd.

"It's an issue that definitely needs to be dealt with, and we have been
working with our political leaders, working with our fellow police leaders
trying to address this issue, this growing concern," he told reporters
during a news conference at police headquarters last week.

"The sense that I get is that most Canadians do not understand. When they
hear about marijuana grow (operations), they think cannabis. They don't
really concern themselves with the real issues that we see, and the
dangers, and the health and safety issues not only to police officers
dealing with this but to young children who, in many cases, are living in
this kind of environment."

The four RCMP constables, Brock Myrol, Anthony Fitzgerald Orion Gordon,
Peter Christopher Schieman and Lionide Nicholas Johnston, were shot last
Thursday after a raid on a marijuana grow operation in rural Alberta.

Boyd said the news of the killings is "devastating" to the policing
community across Canada.

"The shock has not diminished," he said.

"What happened is something that lurks as a terrible possibility in the
minds of all police officers as they protect our communities daily. Yet,
without fail, these highly trained men and women face such risks with
bravery and dedication."

Boyd said the four Mounties "have made the ultimate sacrifice, and they
will never, ever be forgotten."

He said he intended to attend the funerals - that began yesterday - with
other Toronto officers.

"The Toronto Police Service definitely will be represented at this service."

Acting Insp. Greg McLane of Scarborough's 42 Division, which has the bulk
of the grow houses in the city, said the deaths have "knocked the policing
(community) to its knees," and are causing officers to re-evaluate the
dangers they face.

"It all boils down to an officer safety issue," he said in an interview.

"Officers have to be really diligent now to preserve themselves from harm,
and we've got to take precautions."

McLane said "aggressive steps" would be taken to dismantle grow operations,
but it will be costly. "The bottom line is that these investigations are
expensive and are very exhaustive. They use up a lot of resources."