MAKING PEACE ON LASQUETI

Oceanside RCMP Staff Sergeant Bill van Otterloo is hoping to open a new
chapter in relations between Lasqueti Island residents and police. Some
Lasquetians, however, are keeping a wait and see attitude.

At a meeting held in the Lasqueti Island Community Centre on Tuesday night,
S/Sgt van Otterloo and other members of the local detachment discussed
policing issues with approximately 45 residents.

The meeting was called in an effort to improve relations between police and
Lasquetians, which had been strained after a marijuana eradication raid in
August. Residents were angry about damaged property, improper entry into
homes and livestock scared by low-flying helicopters.

"The meeting was very positive," van Otterloo said Wednesday. "It was an
opportunity for me to provide the information they were looking for and the
rationale behind some of the activity that was done by he police, as well
as what my vision and plans are for our policing and relationship with the
Lasquetians in the future."

In regard to the complaints about the police raid, van Otterloo said the
allegations were dealt with on a case-by-case basis. "We don't talk too
publicly about that," he said.

"They were explained to the people who needed to know. In a general way I
can safely say we did make some mistakes, and we gave assurances to the
Lasquetians that me and my detachment would be directly involved in any
further planning by outside units in the enforcement of marijuana raids,
and that the folks who had made some of these mistakes were dealt with
internally."

One of the main concerns raised at the meeting, van Otterloo said, involved
unregistered, unlicensed vehicles taking up parking space near the dock on
Lasqueti Island.

Police, van Otterloo said, will work in cooperation with the island's
safety committee to deal with the problem.

"We will assist them in providing some type of protocol to deal with the
removal of unsafe vehicles, and to make sure people take the responsibility
in licensing and registering their vehicles," he said.

"We also talked about community awareness in terms of alcohol and
driving-related incidents, so we will be working in a proactive manner with
that."

Powell River Regional District director Rose Willow attended the meeting,
and agreed with police that the tone was positive.

"I really feel that the RCMP recognized the impact of low-flying aircraft
over a small community, and I think they are going to take measures to
ensure this doesn't occur again," she said.

"They said they are going to avoid flying over homes and livestock, and
that they are going to make better use of hoists to lower people down."

Willow was pleased about the pledge to assist in the parking problem near
the ferry in False Bay.

"There are all kinds of vehicles there," she said. "There are over 50
vehicles without proper license plates on them. If we could get those out
of there would be more parking spots.

"It's a huge thing for us and will go a long way to getting some positive
input in the community."

Lasqueti Island resident Chris Bearchell had been one of those who were
highly critical of police in the aftermath of the raid.

This week, she was remaining cautious.

"Our neighbour's house was entered illegally by police and the day before
the meeting they said they entered the house to determine that it posed no
threat to them, although how a house with four chickens cowering under it
could be a threat I don't know," she said.

"They said they were concerned that the operation did not go according to
the rules, and they had what they hoped were solutions for the future,
including assuming responsibility for operations on Lasqueti, instead of
the office based in Vancouver."

Although wary, Bearchell conceded that, despite past actions, change was
possible.

"There are new people in there now, a new person in charge," she said.

"There could be a new attitude. I don't rule out the possibility of things
getting better."