RCMP PRESENTS BUSINESS PLAN TO LOCAL COUNCILS

Sgt. Rick Cashman of the Bow Island/Foremost detachment, attended the March
12 meeting of the council of the County of Forty Mile to present a business
plan.

"I like (the term) 'policing strategy', we're not a business," Cashman said
of the plan.

The presentation covered two programs that will be implemented in the
communities in the county. One is the Youth Restorative Justice Program.

"The new youth act effective April 1 gives more choices for police,"
Cashman said.

One of those choices is having a committee set up to deal with incidents
involving youth. Cashman said the South East Alberta Youth Justice
Committee, working out of Medicine Hat, will train people locally to serve
on a committee that, together with the youth, parents and victim will deal
with youths who commit crimes.

"The youth has to agree (to co-operate), otherwise it goes straight to
court," Cashman explained.

Another program Cashman said he is looking at is the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program, or DARE.

"I have determined it's a very good program. It gives the opportunity for
youth to see policemen in the schools."

The DARE program is taught by working police officers to Grade 5 and 6
students and outlines the consequences of using drugs.

"We tell them exactly what it is and what it does. There's no sugar," he
explained.

Cashman said DARE is a U.S. program and has strict guidelines for its
implementation.

"For the 2003-2004 school year I'm prepared to commit two members (to teach
it)."

Cashman said he is also looking at two other crime-prevention programs.

"Rural Crime Watch and Citizens on Patrol (COPS) are one of my priorities.
I have my officers actively recruiting. The goal is hopefully to get some
big meetings going."