RCMP, CABBIES TALK SAFETY AND DRUG HOUSES

Grande Prairie RCMP are giving taxi drivers a chance to brush up on
their knowledge of what they can do to keep their communities -- and
themselves -- safe.

About 30 taxi drivers sat in on the first of two sessions on Tuesday
afternoon and listened to Const. Tony Walker -- head of the local
Report A Drug House program -- and Const. Scott Hagarty dole out advice.

"I'm very pleased with the turnout," Walker said. "It was more than we
expected. Obviously the cab companies are taking this initiative seriously."

Hagarty kicked off the free informational meeting by listing off a
host of things taxi drivers can do to reduce the chances of being
victims of crime.

One of his best tips, he said, was to simply say hello to people and
indulge them in small talk. This will lower the possibility of
anything happening and, if anything does go wrong, at least the driver
will have a better recollection of what the person looked, sounded and
acted like, and potentially help in identifying the culprit.

"Another big one is trusting your instincts," Hagarty said. "If you
get that feeling in your neck ... if you start to feel that something
is wrong, trust that feeling."

More specific advice included programming a one-touch 911 button on
cellphones, keeping the windows rolled up and the doors locked, being
wary of customers who give vague directions, and taking extra
precautions at night.

The point that stirred the audience up most, perhaps, was his advice
to co-operate with robbers.

"Do not offer any resistance to a robber," he said adding "If someone
wants your money, give it to them. If someone wants your cab, give it
to them. It's not worth it."

Walker talked about what taxi drivers can do to help keep drugs off
streets and out of the hands of adults and children.

"I know that you guys have to work hard, but help us out here," Walker
said.

He asked those in attendance to name some of the tell-tale signs they
may have just given someone a ride to a drug house.

Every answer that flew forward from the crowd -- the passenger asks to
be dropped off a block from the house, they are given a substantial
sum of money to sit and wait for the passenger to return, and so on --
Walker agreed with and added a few of his own.

"You guys probably find out where the crack houses are before we do.
Help us out here," he said to the audience, where several heads were
nodding in agreement.

He encouraged drivers to simply give police a call if they think there
are illegal activities going on in a house. He assured them their
calls are anonymous, and added since many people report drug houses
based on the number of taxis coming and going from the house, in the
process they will be giving taxi companies a better name too.

The cop duo will be giving their free talks again on Friday afternoon
from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the D Company Armouries.