POLICE INCREASE PATROLS TO FIGHT RISING CRIME

KELOWNA -- The crime rate associated with drug use has grown so fast that
that RCMP have devoted a second officer to full-time foot patrols downtown

Const. Cheryl McKinnon will join Const. Bill Biden in patrolling the area

"There has definitely been an increase in the level of violence downtown,
so we've assigned a second individual who will start on Monday," said Insp.
Cam Forgues

Forgues said the extra policing is not just for the safety of the general
population in the area, but also non drug-using homeless who are preyed
upon by criminal transients

"These are heavy substance abusers who use crime to support their habit,"
said Const. Heather Macdonald. She said she doesn't have current
statistics, but "we know there is an increase in crime over last year."
Clint McKenzie of the Downtown Kelowna Association said he's never seen the
street scene as bad as it has been this summer

"Things have not slowed down since it all started March 1, and the summer
is still with us," he said. "We're worried that this is only the first
wave. What I've heard many times is that people are worried that it can
only get worse with the transients as the Olympics approach." He said that
even the social service agencies, such as the Gospel Mission, have
increased security. That's also the case with the Safeway and the
McDonald's and other nearby stores on Water Street and Highway 97. The
parking lot there has been a constant source of problems since transients
took over a townhouse in the nearby Riviera Villa

Sean Brooks was taken into custody and will face a psychiatric assessment
after a man threatened to jump off the roof of Tim Hortons and tore up the
sign early Tuesday morning. Brooks, 26, is facing a raft of charges that
also includes three attempted armed robberies

"The police and bylaw officers have been doing an excellent job, but they
can't be everywhere," said McKenzie. "So we're discussing additional
resources for this fall." He said the DKA has up to eight people in its
Downtown Patrol. "One of the things we're working on is the aggressive
panhandling," he said. "What concerns me the most is that if you don't give
them some change, you get sworn at. That's just not appropriate." The
patrollers have been seen surrounding panhandlers and telling them to get
up and move on.