POLICE MAY BEEF UP PRESENCE

839 More police officers may soon be strolling the halls of Brandon
high schools as efforts are stepped up to combat illegal drug use
among students, police and school officials say.

"You may see more police presence at the high schools in terms of
attending to the schools," Brandon Police Service Sgt. Rick Semler
told the Sun on Friday.

"We'll be in the schools, outside the schools and near the schools,
and we may be using our police service dog."

Brandon School Division Supt. Donna Michaels said the move is a direct
result of an incident at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School on
Dec. 2, when a 17-year-old female student was arrested for allegedly
trafficking cocaine.

Following the bust, the division's senior high school principals met
with representatives from the Brandon Police Service to discuss the
situation, Michaels said.

"We indicated it would really be beneficial to have more police
presence in the school," she said.

"Some parents have requested the periodic presence of the police dogs
and I've indicated to police and principals that if that's a
necessity, we will do it, but that's something that's in the hands of
the police service."

Michaels reiterated her stance that the school division will not bring
in a private police dog company to sniff out drugs in schools -
something at least three divisions in the province have resorted to.

But the division won't hesitate to crack down on drug users and
sellers - a trafficking conviction can get you expelled from school,
as can ongoing drug use on school grounds.

"Our principals tell us that one of the main reasons for poor student
achievement is student misuse of drugs and alcohol," the
superintendent said.

Investigations into drug activity can help police add to their
existing knowledge about how illegal drugs get into the city and find
their way into the hands of teens.

"We know cocaine comes here from either Winnipeg or Calgary, and is
brought here by vehicle," Semler said. "Definitely, it's linked to
organized crime. It may be related to bikers, because that's what
(organized crime) is in this area."

So where does the drug money go? "Everyone gets a kick at the can,"
Semler said. "The unfortunate part of it is that people can make money
selling it."

While an ounce of cocaine sells for about $1,600 on the street, a
quarter-gram now goes for about $40, Semler said. With 28 grams in an
ounce, there's obviously profit to be made at several points along the
dealing line.

But while some people get rich off the drug trade, others get poor and
may turn to crime to finance their addictions. A number of armed
robberies in the city, including an incident Nov. 2 that saw a
double-barreled shotgun pointed at a terrified Fas Gas Richmond
Service employee, have been linked to addicts desperate for a fix.

"There was a link in the Fas Gas one," Semler said. "It is alleged
that (the two males charged) needed the money to purchase drugs."
Michaels said while the school division can do its part to combat drug
use among teens, parents and community members must take even more
responsibility.

"We have (the students) for five to five-and-a-half hours a day," she
said. "Parents have them for the rest of the time. We are willing to
support the parents ... but we can't take over for the parents."

A 17-year-old Crocus Plains student and occasional drug user agreed.
"Parents don't know where their kids' money is going," she said. "They
really should be asking where it's going."

Michaels encouraged parents to contact the Addictions Foundation of
Manitoba in Brandon to find out when evening drug awareness meetings
for parents are held.