MAJOR SHIFT IN WAY RCMP WORKS

Youth crime prevention and organized crime to top priority list for Fort
detachment in future

Fort Saskatchewan Record - Local cop staff sergeant Nick Taylor says the
two main priorities in the city's policing strategies involve organized
crime and addressing the root of youth crime.

"In the scheme of things, youth is the biggest priority right now," said
Taylor at the Policing Committee meeting Thursday. "It always has been for
me," he added.

The statement came when Taylor was presenting the police Commissioner's
Vision Statement outlining the RCMP's priorities, duties, operations and
goals that the committee will leave for future discussion.

"We need to sit down as a committee and see what we can do for next year,"
said Taylor.

A major shift in the way the RCMP works is being called to action through
the vision statement, dealing in conjunction with three key areas involving
a new strategic framework for the organization, new management structure,
and a new approach on emphasizing performance management.

The strategic priorities outlined in the statement focuses around four
priorities that look into organized crime, youth crime, international
police services, and terrorism.

Taylor said the two that pertain to the Fort detachment are organized crime
and youth crime.

The strategy to deal with youth crimes, is a long term goal, said Taylor.
"It's not an immediate answer."

The RCMP is developing the strategy on a national level.

He indicated, as on the vision statement, he believes the importance of
focusing on youth crime lies within addressing the root causes, pro-active
education, preventive measures, and establishing community partnerships.

In addition to youth crime as a focus, Taylor said organized crime is also
an area that affects the city.

"The spill from organized crime affects everyone," he said. "Anytime you
have drug trafficking, or when people consume drugs in this community
they're supporting organized crime."

A statistic report for the month of November lists a single drug offense
charge, but shows a year to date consisting of 45 drug offenses.

"We're constantly working on different groups of people within our
resources," Taylor said.

The prime thing right now, said Taylor, is in dealing with drug awareness.

City crime statistics indicate a drug problem is minuscule compared to
thefts under $5,000 from motor vehicles which is at five incidents for
November, and 142 to date. In 2002 there were only 72 recorded up to November.

Const. Helen Meinzinger told the Fort Record the thefts are methamphetemine
related, as addicts look to fuel their habit through stealing.

"That rate will come down," said Taylor of the thefts. "We have a couple of
meth heads in jail now."