NO LETTING UP ON CRIME DESPITE COLLAPSED CASES

Criminals and organized-crime groups in Edmonton have little cause to
celebrate the collapse of two massive cases, because cops will now be
looking for "vindication," says a University of Alberta criminologist.
"They'll recognize that the police aren't going to let up at all, that there
are going to be charges laid, and that the process is simply going to be
different," said U of A professor Keith Spencer, referring to criminals in
general. "I don't think they're sitting there gloating. I think they know
the police are going to be on them just as much, or even more than in the
past, wanting to get vindication."

Crown prosecutors announced Friday that criminal cases stemming from
Alberta's largest drug sweep had collapsed under the weight of disclosure
obligations. They said the process of prosecution was bogged down to the
point that the accused stood little chance of seeing a trial within a
reasonable period of time, a right guaranteed under the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms.

In 1999, 57 people were arrested and charged in connection with organized
crime and drug allegations. Since then, 22 pleaded guilty to charges, two
were convicted and four were deported. After charges were stayed against 10
people and charges against four more were dropped entirely, prosecutors
split the remaining defendants into two groups. The entire process cost $36
million.

Spencer said new anti-gang legislation led prosecutors to believe they could
have a "gang-sized" trial.

"It was a learning experience. They will proceed in smaller chunks in the
future, and not try to have a massive performance like this."

Staff Sgt. Peter Ratcliff, who heads up the city police's vice unit, said
it's important to understand that the collapse of the high-profile cases
won't curtail other, unrelated police investigations.

"I would say that investigations are probably going to be stepped up," he
said yesterday.

Ratcliff, president of the Edmonton Police Association, said police have
continued with successful cocaine busts and arrests at methamphetamine labs,
and they've closed down marijuana grow operations. Even so, cops do
experience frustration at times with what happens to some files after
they're out of their hands, he said.

"In most cases, I'd say the vast majority of the cases, (we say) fine, let's
move on," he said. "There's more fish out there to catch."