DRUG USE CONCERNS MOUNTIES

Pincher Creek Echo -- While the figures don't support it, Const. Trevor
Baldwin of the local RCMP detachment admits that there is "trouble with
drug use" in the Pincher Creek area.

First quarter figures (January through to the end of March) indicate no
charges for drug offences.

"Unless drug use is reported, we don't get it," said Baldwin, who noted
that any collars for drug-related crimes come when individuals have been
apprehended on different violations.

"Drug use is going up, but it's not being pushed in our face," he added.

While marijuana is the largest problem in the greater community, Baldwin
said that a "small amount of cocaine has surfaced". Other drugs, like
Ecstasy, don't present a problem in the Pincher Creek area.

Statistics presented to the council for the Municipal District of Pincher
Creek at its June 10 meeting show a decline in almost every offence
compared to the same period last year.

While property offences have dropped from 13 to six, council did note more
vandalism of rural signs and asked Baldwin to patrol more for that. "It's
disheartening seeing the money we spent (on the rural road signs) and
seeing it be destroyed," said Deputy Reeve Rodney Cyr.

Other decreases have been noticed in traffic accidents, which dropped from
58 to 36. Provincial traffic contraventions climbed from 140 to 154 and
assaults jumped from one to three. Only eight detachments in Alberta have a
lower crime rate than the Pincher Creek detachment, which ranks 98 out of
106 detachments.