TOP COPS SEEK TOUGHER LAWS

Weed Grow-Ops at 'Epidemic Proportion': Fantino

TOP COPS and police unions across Canada yesterday paid tribute to the
four slain RCMP officers, while at the same time demanding harsher
laws and sentences for marijuana grow house operators. While some cops
want the Liberals to bring in tougher sentences for all types of
marijuana offences, those resigned to pending decriminalization
legislation say the new laws should at least have significant minimum
sentences for large-scale weed growers.

The pending laws would increase maximum sentences, but it is unlikely
judges would impose them because of low sentence precedents.

"We can deal with the marijuana grow-house problem if we are given the
tools to deal with it," said Tony Cannavino, president of the 40,000
member Canadian Professional Police Association.

The battle against grow-ops is not lost, said Cannavino, a drug cop
with the Quebec Provincial Police.

"Look at the problem we had with the bikers in Quebec. Everyone said
we could never solve it ... but the government created the anti-biker
legislation and now almost everyone of those guys is behind bars."

Cannavino said his group has talked with both Deputy Prime Minister
Anne McLelland and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler.

Confident of Changes

He believes that both ministers understand the seriousness of the
grow-house issue and he is confident the decriminalization legislation
will be changed and improved.

After observing a minute of silence with Canadian Ambassador to Israel
Don Sinclair in Tel Aviv yesterday, an Ontario police delegation that
is examining Israeli anti-terrorism measures expressed shock over the
slayings and hope politicians and public finally recognize that
marijuana grow houses represent a growing and present danger.

"Our position has been for some time now ... the grows are connected
to crime and connected to organized crime," said Paul Hamelin, Midland
police chief and president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of
Police (OACP).

Hamelin, who is one of about 30 chiefs and deputy chiefs visiting
Israel with new Ontario security czar Julian Fantino, OPP Commissioner
Gwen Boniface and Ontario Public Safety Minister Monte Kwinter, said
the group's "hearts and thoughts" were with the slain Mounties'
families and fellow officers.

Bruce Miller, executive director of the Police Association of Ontario,
said the police shootings "just reinforces the need to have adequate
and minimum sentences."

Fantino said the slayings demand a response from Ottawa. "This is a
pretty serious situation ... so much money is being made and organized
crime is involved. This thing has grown to an epidemic
proportion."

Interim Toronto police chief Michael Boyd agreed, saying organized
crime has created a grow-op problem everywhere in Canada.

"These are dangerous situations for police, for the people living
around them and especially for children. This situation goes to
highlight how dangerous they are."