MOUNTIES' DEATHS POINT TO DANGERS WITH GROW-OPS

Richmond Rcmp Executed 63 Searches In 2004

The mood was sombre but angry Thursday at the Richmond RCMP
detachment, where every television and radio was tuned to the
unfolding tragedy in Alberta after four police officers were shot to
death at a rural marijuana grow-op west of Edmonton.

Four constables-Peter Christopher Schiemann, 25, Lionide Nicholas
Johnston, 32, Anthony Fitzgerald Orion Gordon, 28 and Brock Warren
Myrol, 29-were executing a court-ordered seizure of property which
resulted in them stumbling across a marijuana growing operation.

Two members were left to secure the property outside Mayerthorpe,
Alberta around 4:30 a.m., and two others arrived around 9 a.m. About
15 minutes later, two more officers arrived, and they heard shots
being fired as they exited their vehicles. The shots were being fired
inside a prefabricated metallic cylindrical building known as a
Quonset hut.

A suspect exited the hut and then fired shots at the two officers
outside, who returned fire.

The suspect, who was armed with a weapon that police described as a
"rapid fire auto carbine assault style rifle," then retreated inside
the building. The shooter, who police said eventually committed
suicide, was identified by police as James Roszko.

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said this incident is an example of
the type of violence that can be associated with marijuana growing
operations.

Richmond is no stranger to deadly violence.

"We've seen in the past in Richmond what individuals involved in the
drug trade are capable of," Thiessen said Friday.

In one case in the past few years, a gardener was murdered at a home
turned greenhouse on No. 4 Road, and in another, a woman was violently
assaulted by a group of young thugs on No. 2 Road. Many residents have
been victimized by grow-rippers who have targeted the wrong home.

"I think it's clear that the public has to understand what they're
capable of. They're killers or willing to kill."

Richmond has a massive marijuana growing problem, with estimates of up
to 500 local homes, apartments or warehouses used to grow the
lucrative illegal crop.

Richmond RCMP Supt. Ward Clapham said 63 grow-op search warrants were
executed last year, and some 20,000 plants were seized. Instead of
aiming for quantity, Clapham said efforts have been directed at
incapacitating organized crime groups via strategic
investigations.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie offered his condolences to the families
of those who lost their lives, as well as the entire RCMP family. "The
tragedy itself is unspeakable," said the mayor.

Brodie urged the RCMP to bring to council's attention anything that
can be done-in terms of equipment or procedures-to reduce the risk
when they execute search warrants locally.

"Our council has always understood...that the problem of grow-ops is
far more than a few hippies...growing marijuana plants. It's often
organized crime."

Although he said he wasn't writing a blank cheque to the RCMP, Brodie
said his priority is protecting lives.

"I want to protect the (police) members and to protect the general
public," he said.

"I would hope the public are alerting the RCMP to the presence of
grow-ops."

Brodie noted the City of Richmond is currently awaiting word from its
legal department about steps that can be taken to have those
responsible for marijuana grow-ops pay for the resulting
investigation.