TOP COP MAKES CRACK JOB 1

New Chief Brian Mullan Sworn In Yesterday

Hamilton's new top cop hopes to work with community partners as he begins
his fight against the city's crack cocaine problem.

Brian Mullan, officially sworn in yesterday as the new chief of the
Hamilton Police Service, says the city's crack cocaine problem is "right at
the top of the list" of his priorities. And he stressed that it can't be
solved through enforcement alone. Mullan, a 30-year Hamilton police
veteran, replaces Ken Robertson, who retired after five- and-a-half years
as chief.

The hand-over took place at the central police station.

Mullan said in the next few weeks, he hopes to sit down with addictions
specialists and other community partners to see what needs to be done to
address the crack problem from all angles.

"From a policing standpoint we can certainly do the enforcement side --
we've been doing that," the 49-year-old said.

"To be candid with you, more has to be done," he added.

"I feel that we have to get involved in more partnerships -- partnerships
with mental health professionals, partnerships with the medical community,
partnerships with the judiciary -- in order to deal with it not only from
an enforcement level, but also an education, rehabilitation level."

Experts agree the scourge of crack cannot be eliminated with arrests and
jail time for users and sellers alone. Unfortunately, while the crack
problem grows, the number of treatment facilities in Hamilton for people
with addictions is shrinking.

Catherine McPherson-Doe, co-chair of Hamilton Addiction Services Coalition,
said Mullan will find "there are fewer community partners to partner with.

"There's increasing complexity regarding addictions. We have an increasing
number of clients, but we've had an erosion of funding over the years," she
said. "We have huge gaps in what should be a full spectrum of services."

In the last year, Hamilton Health Sciences shut down two of its treatment
programs. Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Services, which provides assessment
and referrals for people seeking treatment, has a waiting list of ten to 12
weeks for treatment, said manager Rosemary Hilbert.

McPherson-Doe says crack cocaine is a problem the entire community should
be concerned about. Because crack cocaine is such a powerful drug, users
often turn to a life of crime to support their desperate need for a high.
The effects have been seen on Hamilton's streets, where the number of
crack-related crimes has been increasing. Police estimate that the city's
500 to 1,000 crack-cocaine addicts are responsible for 95 per cent of
street muggings and robberies of gas bars and convenience stores. Robberies
in the Hamilton census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington and
Grimsby, were up almost 19 per cent in 2002.

Aside from the devastating impact on the victims of robberies or muggings
- -- which could happen to anyone anywhere -- the crimes also carry a big
economic cost. They can drive up insurance rates, drive customers from
crack-infested areas of the city, or drive up taxes to pay for expensive
beds in jails.

McPherson-Doe also noted that crack addicts can come from all areas of the
city and socio-economic groups.

Recently, a Hamilton judge sentencing a 17 year-old crack dealer commented
on how shocked he was at the shortage of treatment for addicts in Hamilton.
Justice Bernd Zabel said until that situation improves "the crack-induced
crime wave in this community will only gain momentum."

Mullan said it's an issue the community needs to address together, possibly
with the help of the province.

"This could very well take a provincial approach," he said.

"We may have to turn to the provincial government as a community and say,
'Hey, we need a rehabilitation facility locally.' "

Mullan said police will also be concentrating heavily on enforcement, and
looking to crack down on major suppliers in addition to street-level
dealers. Because some of those key suppliers might be in other
jurisdictions, that will involve working with the RCMP, OPP and
neighbouring police forces, he said.

The chief also said the service is already partnering with other agencies,
such as the fire department and city housing, to get rid of absentee
landlords who allow their properties to become crack houses.

"There's more than one way to skin a cat," he said. "We'll do whatever it
takes."