RCMP MEMBERS DELIVER 2003 CRIME STATS

Vermilion RCMP Sgt. Chuck Jackson along with Cpl. Dave Neigum recently
paid a visit to the Vermilion Town Council with the 2003 year-end
crime statistics.

Vermilion Standard - Vermilion RCMP Sgt. Chuck Jackson along with Cpl.
Dave Neigum recently paid a visit to the Vermilion Town Council with
the 2003 year-end crime statistics.

While the so-called hard drugs, such as crystal meth, have been in the
news media lately they may also be making their way into Vermilion.
During checkstops and random highway stops, local RCMP made a
significant seizure of GHB (more commonly known as the date rape
drug), a small amount of crystal meth, and a small amount of crack
cocaine.

Although these types of drugs may be fairly uncommon in the area,
their presence should certainly be a cause for alarm for the whole
community.

"It's always a concern when you see numbers like those going up," said
deputy mayor Neale King. "With the public assistance and knowledge of
the potential, hopefully we are able to keep a handle on things."

Sgt. Chuck Jackson says the community has to show there is no
tolerance for drugs like these in Vermilion.

"A zero tolerance by the community is very important," said Sgt.
Jackson. "If anyone hears anything about crystal meth, or even crack
cocaine for that matter because they are both highly addictive, they
need to be able to have the intestinal fortitude to come forward and
talk to us. If (crystal meth) gets even a finger hold in a community
it will completely destroy it."

Theft from motor vehicles was up in 2003 to 16 occurrences from 8 in
2002. Although the numbers have jumped 100 per cent, most of the cases
were preventable.

"We've got to help ourselves a little bit because it's certainly a
crime of opportunity," said Sgt. Jackson. "In other words, if the keys
are available, and it's unlocked, hey let's go for a joyride. We're
not a society without crime."

Overall, in 2003, the Vermilion RCMP had a criminal code solve rate of
58 per cent which was up from 47 per cent in 2002. These figures are
even more impressive considering the fact the local detachment was
short two members for most of the year.

"I think the RCMP are doing a very good job in our community," said
King. "I commend them for doing a good job."

Even though they were shorthanded, Sgt. Jackson says he has some very
talented officers at the local detachment who helped solve many crimes.

"We did really well last year, I thought," said Sgt. Jackson. "We have
some crackerjack investigators here and they seem to be able to get
out there and solve the crimes."

According to both town council and the RCMP, a big part of the local
success is the positive relationships that have been formed between
the community and the local officers.

"It's a great team effort," said Sgt. Jackson. "The community supports
us, we support the community."

"To have an open line of communication is always a good thing," said
King. "Our doors are always open if there are concerns."

With a full complement of officers for 2004, the impressive crime
statistics will hopefully continue.

"We should probably see the solve rate even higher in the next year,"
said King.