DRUG COMMITTEE'S FUTURE UNCERTAIN

RCMP Officers Feels Hard Drug Use On Rise In City's More Urban
Areas

Questions linger among some City councillors regarding a proposed
committee to deal with illegal drug use across the
municipality.

John Green - a member of the RCMP who lives in the City of Kawartha
Lakes - spoke to councillors during Tuesday's council meeting,
requesting the City support a new drug committee.

Drug use across the municipality, especially crack cocaine, has been
on the rise recently, he told councillors.

"It's more than just a police issue," he said. "We've established
there's a problem and now we want to look at it in some manner."

Mr. Green stressed he wasn't proposing a formal committee of council
be established, but a community-based board made up of volunteers. He
was requesting council's support to do so, he said.

While stressing his support in principle for a new drug committee,
Ward 16 Coun. David Marsh said the City should first hear more details
regarding the committee's agenda. Council should be wary of keeping a
drug committee based in the community, he added.

"I don't believe it should become a committee of council and I think
that is where this is headed," he said.

Ward 15 Coun. Gerald McGregor also supported establishing a drug
committee, but was wary of stepping on the toes of the City's police
forces.

"I think it's a good concept, but it's slightly premature," he said,
adding consultation with other groups such as the Community Policing
Advisory Committee, or CPAC, was necessary before giving such a
committee the green light.

But Ward 9 Coun. Sal Polito, whom Mr. Green first contacted about
setting up a drug committee, told councillors the City's support would
give teeth to a new committee.

The drug committee would still remain community-based and not a formal
committee of council, he said.

"I don't see how we can continue with this at this time without
council's endorsement," he said.

Council made no decisions during Tuesday's meeting regarding a
committee, voting only to receive Mr. Green's presentation.

Insp. Gary Couture, OPP detachment commander, said he had spoken with
Coun. Polito about a drug committee.

"I think it's a great idea any time you get the community involved,"
he said. "Things are moving in the right direction."

But Insp. Couture was also quick to point out police have made headway
in combating illegal drugs, having seized more than $7 million worth
of narcotics this year.

A unit consisting of officers from various forces, called the Kawartha
Combined Forces Drug Unit, has worked hard to fight drugs, he said.

That unit is made up of officers from Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough and
Northumberland OPP detachments, as well as the Peterborough and
Cobourg police services

Insp. Couture added the OPP welcome the chance to be consulted if a
drug committee was eventually formed.