UNDERCOVER POLICE IDEA MOVES FORWARD

Council decision to hire 17th cop means a plain clothes unit may hit city
streets

Fort Saskatchewan Record -- City council's approval for more manpower in
policing means undercover cops could hit the streets in the next year.

"We'll be able to move forward," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Nick Taylor of
putting a plain clothes unit on the streets of Fort Saskatchewan.

An additional police officer allows the detachment to create the undercover
unit.

"It'll give us the ability to gather intelligence," says Taylor, who noted
Fort Saskatchewan is the only city in the province without a plain clothes
unit.

He said the target date to get the 17th officer is slated for September,
"but there's no guarantee."

"The federal government has a year to fulfill the contract."

Taylor is pleased with council's decision to approve the policing request
for more manpower after it was narrowly rejected twice during the fall
budget process.

The third time proved to be a charm, when the request was unanimously
approved last week at the spring council meeting to finalize the city budget.

Councillors cited a 30 per cent spike in the 2003 crime rate, and an
increased policing grant announced in March, as reasons for the decision.

"I'm definitely quite happy with the decision," said policing committee
chair Terry Noble. "I'm not overly surprised with the decision."

The province announced, to what worked out to be a $106,000 boost for
community policing through the 2004/2005 budget. The cost to hire an
additional officer is around $80,000.

Noble says the unique aspect is council has also decided to put the
difference of about $26,000 from the increased money into a policing
reserve fund.

"(The funds) are not being thrown into general revenues, which is something
other communities may tend to do," said Noble. "Our council is improving
policing, not just reducing the cost."

He said it's a positive and proactive step.

"The plain clothes unit gives us the capability of dealing with drug
problems," said Noble.

The brunt of a 30 per cent spike in criminal code charges with 1,496
charges in 2003, up 347 charges from 2002, is mostly comprised of theft
under $5,000 charges. Those were up 38 per cent from 278 reported in 2002
to 449 reported charges last year.

Police suspect the root of theft under $5,000 crimes is from Crystal Meth
addicts stealing to support their habit.

Mayor Ken Hodgins approved the policing committee request, but expressed
concern that the city is being portrayed as crime ridden.

He said during council: "We seem to be indicating to media and citizens
that we have a drug problem and a crime problem."

"The drug problems are not unique to us," notes Noble. "It's a prevalent
problem everywhere."

He said a plain clothes unit allows the city's policing to direct more
focus to the issue. "I think it's a real prudent step."