Police Board Briefs

POLICE NOT HOT ON POT PROPOSAL

Federal government proposals to decriminalize the possession of marijuana
aren't getting the support of the New Westminster Police Board.

In response to a request from the B.C. Association of Police Boards that
local boards state their position on the issue, the New Westminster board
unanimously declared its support of the position of the B.C. Association of
Chiefs of Police.

The police chiefs do not support decriminalization, New Westminster chief
Lorne Zapotichny pointed out.

He noted that while Prime Minister Jean Chretien has been supporting
decriminalization, Prime Minister-to-be Paul Martin hasn't, because
decriminalization would create a "troubled" relationship with the U.S.

Board member Ross Montgomery said he supports the chiefs of police, saying
"they're the ones who have dealt with this."

He said decriminalizing marijuana would create problems, such as drivers
who become impaired.

"How do you deal with someone impaired by marijuana, in a traffic accident?"

Board member Dwight Ross, who is a former RCMP officer, said he supports
Montgomery's position.

"It would be very difficult for law enforcement. How would you even enforce
this?"

Board chair Wayne Wright agreed, citing Canada-U.S. relations.

"The turmoil this would create (regarding the U.S./Canada border) would be
an absolute nightmare."

Drugs Can Be Dangerous

Doing drugs can be dangerous - apparently in more ways than one.

When police were called to an apartment in the 700 block of Carnarvon
Street, they found a man with a severe cut on his bottom.

The report to the October meeting of the police board explains that an
evening of smoking drugs with a glass 'bong' pipe preceded the accident.

"As the night wore on, some horseplay occurred which resulted in the
victim's sitting on and breaking a portion of the bong pipe's neck. The
remaining intact portion of the glass bong pipe retaliated by slicing not
only the victim's buttocks, but also his femoral artery."

The report states that the man was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital by
ambulance, where a vascular surgeon was contacted to reattach both ends of
the artery.