DRUGS, IMPAIRED DRIVERS, TRAFFIC VIOLATORS

Are On The Top Of The Olds RCMP's To Do List

When Olds RCMP Sgt. Bob Phillips sends his officers out onto the streets to
ensure the safety of the community he is asking them to keep three areas as
priority: Impaired drivers, traffic violators, as well as drug problems in
target areas.

"These are some of the areas we are targeting to spend more of our time
on," Phillips said.

Phillips and his detachment members have set out goals that they want to
accomplish over the next few months.

Impaired Drivers

Impaired drivers can be the deadliest problem on Alberta highway's,
Phillips says.

With a number of fatalities being blamed on impaired drivers Phillips
believes it's time to work even harder at getting those drunk drivers off
the road.

Phillips says impaired drivers are not only hurting themselves but other
drivers by causing fatalities as well as causing sky rocketing health care
and insurance costs.

"Impaired drivers have such a major impact on everyone," Phillips added.
"It affects us all."

In 2003 the Olds RCMP will be doing random check stops.

"The idea is to decrease the numbers," Phillips said.

Phillips told members of the Police Advisory Committee last week that
Alberta's impaired driving numbers are increasing annually.

"But, the thing is that we don't mind bragging about that statistic because
we are going to get them," Phillips told the committee.

Drug Enforcement Going To Get Tough

With the lack of manpower the last few months the RCMP have not had the
resources to enforce drug operations within the Olds detachment coverage area.

"We are seeing more and more grow operations in the area," Phillips says.

At times grow operations will be situated in rental properties in small
towns like Olds because they are at times easier to hide.

Phillips says - "NO MORE."

The Olds RCMP detachment is expected to be back to full man power by the
end of May.

"We need to ensure we have the man power because the (drug) operations are
very timely and costly investigations," Phillips said.

The Olds, Sundre, and Didsbury RCMP detachments will be working together to
try to rid the region of drugs.

"We feel we share similar problems and we have similar intelligence,"
Phillips says.

Traffic Violators Won't Be Tolerated

Once the detachment is fully staffed again in May one officer will be
devoted strictly to traffic enforcement, Phillips says.

"We have lots of complaints so it's definitely a concern for everyone,"
Phillips said.

"It's really a mixed bag of offenses that we are seeing," Phillips added.

Certain areas of the community will be targeted with speed traps, seat belt
campaigns, and educating drivers in the community.

"We need to be pro-active rather than re-active," Phillips says.

2003 Is The Year To Get Things Done!

Phillips is confident that as long as his detachment's man power stays up
that the goals will be met and these three areas of target can be resolved.
"I am looking forward to a good year," Phillips added.