LETHBRIDGE A LEADER IN ALTERNATIVE MEASURES

While the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police is calling for more
resources to assist individuals with substance abuse and mental health
issues who repeatedly come in contact with the law, locally a number
of measures are already in place to help break the cycle.

"I'm pleased to say that actually in Lethbridge we've taken action on
some of these (resolutions) already," said Lethbridge regional police
chief Tom McKenzie. "A good example would be our Community Substance
Abuse Reduction Team" which promotes education and awareness around
substance abuse and works to reduce the harm that results.

In addition, McKenzie pointed out the city's Mental Health and FASD
Diversion programs are leading the way to provide assistance and
alternative measures for affected individuals who enter the criminal
justice system.

"Lethbridge is out in front and running," he said.

Edmonton police chief Michael Boyd, president of the AACP, welcomes
the implementation of similar programs in other communities and says a
greater emphasis on getting help to those who need it is critical to
reducing criminal victimization.

"Contrary to what a lot of people think, the police chiefs of Alberta
do not want to see everyone go to jail.We know from our experience
that many people are locked into this cycle and it's tied to their own
dependency," he said.

"The justice system needs to change in order to help people that we
know are locked into that cycle of committing crime to get money to
buy the drugs to feed the habit. We know the system needs to be able
to stream people into those services if we're going to stop the cycle."

Boyd was in Lethbridge this week, along with other chiefs and
high-ranking officers, for the AACP's annual spring conference which
gives members an opportunity to discuss present and future policing
concerns and devise solutions.

Boyd says recruitment and retention problems are the No. 1 issues
facing police services in Alberta and across the country and more
government support is needed to help agencies create viable strategies.

McKenzie echoed those sentiments, pointing out while the loss of
senior officers definitely leaves a gap in experience, it's also an
opportunity for growth and the addition of new talent -- the
difficulty is finding a balance.

The AACP is also urging the government to proclaim the Mandatory
Testing and Disclosure Act, which would provide police and other
emergency responders who get stuck with needles, spit on or exposed in
other ways to bodily fluids, to have the blood of the individual
responsible tested for communicable diseases.

"We believe it is critical and it's getting more common all the time
because more people are intravenous drug users (and) there's more
people with infectious diseases," said Boyd.

McKenzie added hepatitis is a great concern for front-line officers
working on the streets and, while an individual's privacy is
important, exposing law enforcers to potentially career- and
life-ending diseases crosses the line.

"You spend a number of months really, really worried, not only for you
but your family and others you come in contact with," said McKenzie,
noting he's gone through the experience. "To have somebody that can
hide behind their illness and not have to disclose it is a concern for
us."

In addition, the AACP is hoping the province will address personnel
shortages within the Law Enforcement Review Board to help streamline
the process for both police officers and complainants. The AACP would
also like to see more services to support young people, a greater
emphasis on restorative justice and prisoner transfer duties returned
to the province.