CRACK HOUSES CLOSED

Sharp-eyed residents helped police shut down a pair of crack houses in
their Red Deer neighbourhood recently.

Kevin Latimer, a Neighbourhood Watch Association block captain in
Clearview, said residents kept tabs on the suspicious comings and goings in
a house on Comfort Close for months. Some residents even took down licence
plate numbers of people visiting the house.

"This went on for a good year. To this date that house is all boarded up.
It is closed."

That happened about two weeks ago, he said.

"It does actually work when you stick together."

Another crack house on Castle Crescent has also been shut down. A sign out
front said "Crack House Closed," he said.

RCMP Cpl. Buck Buchanan said Monday night that a number of drug charges
have been laid in connection with the houses.

The Clearview example was raised at a Neighbourhood Watch Association
meeting in Bower called to boost interest in the organization and in Red
Deer Citizens on Patrol.

About 100 people filled the Bower Community Hall and organizers behind
neighbourhood crime prevention groups hope the strong turnout will lead to
a surge in support.

"I'm thrilled with the turnout tonight," said Cheryl Guenther,
vice-president of Neighbourhood Watch.

She hopes that community associations, many of which had representatives at
the meeting, will join forces with Neighbourhood Watch to boost the program.

"That was our whole intent . . . to get community associations and
Neighbourhood Watch and Citizens on Patrol onto the same track. . . . "I
think we need to work together in order to get the community back together."

Guenther agrees that the association needs to improve its organization and
was pleased that three people signed up to be area co-ordinators.

"We can hold down the fort in the office as we have been. But if we don't
have people behind us in the city, our organization just falls apart.

"I think after tonight we've got a lot of people who are going to back us."

Marie Dickinson, a membership co-ordinator with the Deer Park/Lancaster
Community Association, said people need to make more of an effort to get to
know their neighbours.

"We all know the police are under-staffed, they have very little time, no
manpower. We have to take responsibility ourselves more and more."

Betty Askeland is a block captain in Normandeau and would like to have seen
more people out.

She believes the Neighbourhood Watch program can make a difference if there
is enough support. "But that is the big problem, trying to get people
involved."

Neighbourhood Watch needs to improve its organization to get information
out to block captains through area co-ordinators, she said. One woman who
attended the meeting complained that police dispatchers treated calls about
minor crimes as an imposition.

Another man said the problem isn't a lack of police officers but a legal
system that consistently throws out charges against alleged offenders.

However, many seemed interested in taking a role in making their
neighbourhoods safer.

The RCMP's Buchanan said rising crime statistics have created a "sense of
urgency" among community members to get involved and that will help
organizations like Neighbourhood Watch.

Phil Hyde, chair of the city's policing committee, said it was good news to
see the community associations out.

"I think it's a tremendous start. A big part will depend on how many stay
and get involved with the larger group."

Citizens on Patrol was also looking for support for its organization, which
has seen its numbers dwindle to about 10 volunteers from about 40 several
years ago.

The organization pairs up volunteers to drive around the city acting as
extra eyes and ears for the police. A meeting is to be held tonight at 7:30
p.m. in the Riverside Meadows Community Shelter at 6021 57th Ave.