DANGERS APPARENT - GROW OP RAIDS A CONCERN

Only five days after four junior RCMP members were gunned down at a
marijuana grow operation in northern Alberta, Okotoks Mounties were
carrying out their second grow op raid in the past five months.

Sgt. Bruce Barkley, who was at the scene of the Elizabeth Street bust, said
the dangers involved in drug enforcement are on the forefront of every
officer's mind in light of the recent travesty.

"We didn't think this was a high risk take down, but there will be high
risk take downs in the future and we will definitely handle those
differently," Barkley said.

The RCMP are continuing to investigate the incident that saw four
constables ambushed and killed at the farm of a known criminal. So far no
policy changes have been handed down in light of the mass murder of the
four Mayorthorpe-area officers, but Barkley is not waiting for K-division
to act.

"I don't think we need policy changes in Edmonton -- we just are going to
be more cautious when these things arise," he said.

At the Turner Valley detachment Sgt. Tyler Bray said his officers will
continue to act on the RCMP's current policies. Turner Valley has raided
two marijuana grow operations in the past six months -- one in a
Millarville home in October and another in the Hamlet of Naptha in December.